THE MOLE

NO!   Not the animal, or the TV series, or the body thing!!!!

Soo, What is it then ???

Interesting question!

A MOLE is the amount of pure substance containing the same number of chemical units as there are atoms in exactly 12 grams of carbon-12 (i.e., 6.023 X 10^23). 

This involves the acceptance of two dictates -- the scale of atomic masses and the magnitude of the gram. 

Its a very huge number used as a relative comparison between substance. So 1 mole of a substance could weight more that 1 mole of a different chemical substance.

 

Equal volumes of different gases have a constant ratio..

ex,,   O2 : H   ---> 16 : 1        (16 & 1 are the atomic mass of the 2 elements)

          CO2 : H ---> 22 : 1

 It gets more interesting..

Avogadro's Number 

(Again, the scientific "Avogadro")

Equal volumes of different gases at the same temperature & pressure have the same number of particles. Since they have the same number of particles, the mass ratio is due to the mass of particles. 

Avogadro's number indicates that the amount of particles in 1 mole of any substance is 

6.022 x 10^23   particles / mole

By the way, relative masses of all atoms is measured in Atomic Mass Unit (aka, AMU)..  

Formula Mass

IONIC compounds >> Add AMUs

Ex,  Potassium Fluoride

atomic mass of Potassium is 39.1

atomic mass of Fluorine is 19

Therefore, 39.1 + 19 = 58.1 amu

Molecular Mass

COVALENT compounds >> Add Masses

 Ex, Carbon Dioxide (CO2)

atomic mass of Carbon is 12

atomic mass of Oxygen is 16

There are 2 atoms of oxygen..

Therefore, 12 + 16 + 16 = 44 amu

Molar Mass

Mass of 1 mole of an element.. 

Unit >> grams per mole  ( g/mol ) 

Ex, 1 mole of oxygen = 16.0 g/mol

I bet you are saying to yourself,, " myself,, what is the whole point of this??"

I'll tell you what.. IT ALLOWS CHEMISTS TO COUNT ATOMS AND MOLECULES EASIER (yes, it is a big deal!!)..


You've all heard of Mole Day,, (no, not really)...
Well it is on Oct 23rd from 6.02 am till 6.02 pm ..

Check out this Song ::

Thanks for stopping by.. ;)