Welcome to a simplified version of your high school chemistry class,
What is a mole? A mole is a basic measuring unit that is used to determine the number of atoms in a particle molecule or substance. Many of you have forgotten the magic number from your chemistry class, even though your teacher made you rememorize it and obsessively use it.
Avogadro, the man that created it all, 6.022×10 23 mol -1
Amadeo Avogadro was an Italian scientist who specialized in physics but experimented with chemistry. Just like any other experimentalist, Avogadro was testing his hypothesis. He was experimenting with gas molecules insisting that equal volumes at a fixed temperature and pressure have the same number of molecules. His findings would later become Avogadro's Law, and thus the mole was born.
Without moles, we wouldn't be able to find the number of atoms (or elements) in a molecule or compound. In order to find the correct number of moles, the periodic table must be used to locate the atomic mass, or molar mass, of a particular element that makes up the substance. The atomic mass is the bottom number under the atomic symbol, which is usually rounded to four significant figures. For example, the element oxygen (O) has an atomic mass of 16.00 grams. So in one mole of oxygen, it weighs 16.00 grams.
Why is this important to you? Well, there are many reasons to justify that. One is that if you had a specific amount of a substance and need to know the specific amounts of elements that it contained in a compound or molecule, you could use Avogadro's number and its molar mass to calculate it. For example, your body contains carbon and oxygen elements in the form of carbonate (CO3-2 ). Knowing the molar mass of each element one can find how many moles the molecule contains.
Why does mole day fall on October 23, 2017, between 6:02 am until 6:02 pm? The idea is to examine Avogadro's number, 6.022 × 10 23 . October 23rd, or 10/23, represents the tenth to the twenty-third power. The 6:02 am - 6:02 pm represents the 6.022 in his number.
On October 23, 2017, between 6:02 am and 6:02 pm, celebrate Avogadro's number. Initially, Avogadro wasn't recognized for his work until after his death in 1858. So on this day be thankful that you have the ability to find the number of atoms or molecules in a substance.
Personally, I would like to thank my high school chemistry teacher, Mrs. Bettis, for obsessively teaching me how to find the number of moles of this particular substance. Even though the repetition of solving these problems was fun, I obtained the concept after the first problem. Today, I use Avogadro's number in college chemistry to find the moles of a substance that are incomparable to the simple problems in high school.
Save the date: 10/27/17 and celebrate Mole Day! 6.022 × 10 23 all day!
