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How to Calculate the Molecular Weight for Dibutyltindilaurate

Dibutyltindilaurate is extremely helpful in the plastics industry as a stabilizer and protects plastics from the damages brought about by exposure to sunlight. The production processes of some plastics use it to accelerate the reactions that produce the plastics. It is important to know the molecular weight of dibutyltindilaurate to calculate the amount required to achieve the catalysis of the reaction. Based on the reaction equation for the formation of the plastic or foam product, the stoichiometry of the equation will dictate the required amount of catalyst in moles. Multiplying the number of moles required by the molecular weight of the compound will yield the weight of the compound to use.

Things You'll Need

  • Periodic table
  • Calculator
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Instructions

    • 1

      Convert the name of the chemical to its molecular formula. In this case, the empirical formula of dibutyltindilaurate is C32H64O4Sn. If you have the structural diagram, you can count all the atoms of each type to confirm this empirical formula.

    • 2

      Look up the atomic weights of each type of element from the periodic table. The atomic weight of carbon is 12.011, for hydrogen is 1.0079, for oxygen is 15.999 and for tin is 118.71.

    • 3

      Multiply the atomic weight of each element by the number of atoms of that element in the compound. For carbon, there are 32 atoms, so 32 * 12.011 = 384.352 atomic mass units (amu). For hydrogen and oxygen, the mass weights are 64 * 1.0079 = 64.505 and 4 * 15.999 = 64 amu. The atomic weight of tin is 118.71 amu.

    • 4

      Obtain the molecular weight by adding the amount of each element in the compound together. 384.352 + 64.505 + 64 + 118.71 = 631.56 amu.


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