Pyrazine, an organic compound with the chemical formula C4H4N2, can be characterized by its specific physical properties, notably its molar mass and density. These values provide precise measurements that help define its "size" in terms of its molecular weight and how much mass it occupies per unit volume.
Understanding Pyrazine's Characteristics
Pyrazine is known to appear as white crystals. Its fundamental composition, as indicated by its chemical formula, shows it contains four carbon atoms, four hydrogen atoms, and two nitrogen atoms.
Key Indicators of Pyrazine's Size
When discussing the "size" of a chemical compound, two important quantifiable metrics are its molar mass and density:
Molar Mass
The molar mass of a substance represents the mass of one mole of that substance. A mole is a unit of measurement that contains approximately 6.022 × 10^23 particles (molecules in this case).
- The molar mass of pyrazine is 80.09 g/mol.
This means that if you have 6.022 × 10^23 molecules of pyrazine, their collective mass would be 80.09 grams. This value is crucial for understanding the stoichiometry of reactions involving pyrazine, allowing for accurate calculations of reacting quantities.
Density
Density measures the mass of a substance per unit volume. It indicates how compactly the mass is packed within a given space.
- The density of pyrazine is 1.031 g/cm³.
This implies that one cubic centimeter of pyrazine weighs 1.031 grams. For context, pure water at standard conditions has a density of approximately 1.0 g/cm³. Therefore, pyrazine is slightly denser than water. This property is important for practical applications such as storage, transportation, and predicting its behavior in mixtures.
Summary of Pyrazine's Physical Properties
The table below summarizes the key physical properties that define the "size" and nature of pyrazine:
| Property | Value | Unit |
|---|---|---|
| Chemical Formula | C4H4N2 | |
| Molar Mass | 80.09 | g/mol |
| Density | 1.031 | g/cm³ |
| Appearance | White crystals |
These precise measurements provide a comprehensive understanding of pyrazine's molecular weight and its spatial characteristics, fulfilling the various interpretations of its "size."
