To calculate the molar mass of caffeine, we need to determine the atomic masses of each element in the compound and sum them up.
The atomic masses are as follows:
- Carbon (C) = 12.01 g/mol
- Hydrogen (H) = 1.01 g/mol
- Nitrogen (N) = 14.01 g/mol
- Oxygen (O) = 16.00 g/mol
Now, we can calculate the molar mass of caffeine:
(1 * C) + (10 * H) + (1 * N) + (4 * O)
= (1 * 12.01 g/mol) + (10 * 1.01 g/mol) + (1 * 14.01 g/mol) + (4 * 16.00 g/mol)
= 12.01 g/mol + 10.10 g/mol + 14.01 g/mol + 64.00 g/mol
= 100.12 g/mol + 78.01 g/mol
= 178.13 g/mol
Therefore, the molar mass of caffeine is approximately 178 g/mol, which is closest to the option provided.