Mole | Definition, Number, & Facts (2024)

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Also known as: gram atom, gram molecular weight, gram molecule, mol

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Also spelled:
mol
Related Topics:
atom
matter
molecular weight
Avogadro’s number

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Top Questions

How is a mole defined?

A mole is defined as 6.02214076 × 1023 of some chemical unit, be it atoms, molecules, ions, or others. The mole is a convenient unit to use because of the great number of atoms, molecules, or others in any substance. The mole was originally defined as the number of atoms in 12 grams of carbon-12, but in 2018 the General Conference on Weights and Measures announced that effective May 20, 2019, the mole would be just 6.02214076 × 1023 of some chemical unit.

How is a mole calculated?

If you want to know how many moles of a material you have, divide the mass of the material by its molar mass. The molar mass of a substance is the mass in grams of one mole of that substance. This mass is given by the atomic weight of the chemical unit that makes up that substance in atomic mass units (amu). For example, silver has an atomic weight of 107.8682 amu, so one mole of silver has a mass of 107.8682 grams.

atomic weightLearn more about atomic weight.

What is Avogadro’s number?

Avogadro’s number is the number of units in one mole of a substance, or 6.02214076 × 1023. This number is also called the Avogadro constant. It is named after the 19th-century Italian physicist Amedeo Avogadro, who found that under the same temperature and pressure, two gases with the same volume have the same number of molecules. It was the French physicist Jean Perrin who in the early 20th century dubbed the amount of units in a mole as Avogadro’s number.

Amedeo AvogadroLearn more about the life of the groundbreaking physicist Amedeo Avogadro.

What is the molar mass formula?

The molar mass of some substance is the mass in grams of one mole of that substance. This mass is given by the atomic weight of the chemical unit that makes up that substance in atomic mass units (amu). For example, gold has an atomic weight of 196.967 amu, so one mole of gold has a mass of 196.967 grams. For a substance that is composed of more than one kind of atom, one adds up the atomic weights of the individual atoms for the chemical unit that makes up that substance. Water is composed of two atoms of hydrogen and one of oxygen. The atomic weight of one atom of hydrogen is 1.008 amu, so that of two atoms is 2.016. The atomic weight of one atom of oxygen is 15.999, so the molar mass of water is 2.016 + 15.999 = 18.015 grams.

atomic weightLearn more about atomic weight.

mole, in chemistry, a standard scientific unit for measuring large quantities of very small entities such as atoms, molecules, or other specified particles.

The mole designates an extremely large number of units, 6.02214076 × 1023. The General Conference on Weights and Measures defined the mole as this number for the International System of Units (SI) effective from May 20, 2019. The mole was previously defined as the number of atoms determined experimentally to be found in 12 grams of carbon-12. The number of units in a mole also bears the name Avogadro’s number, or Avogadro’s constant, in honour of the Italian physicist Amedeo Avogadro (1776–1856). Avogadro proposed that equal volumes of gases under the same conditions contain the same number of molecules, a hypothesis that proved useful in determining atomic and molecular weights and which led to the concept of the mole. (See Avogadro’s law.)

The number of atoms or other particles in a mole is the same for all substances. The mole is related to the mass of an element in the following way: one mole of carbon-12 atoms has 6.02214076 × 1023 atoms and a mass of 12 grams. In comparison, one mole of oxygen consists, by definition, of the same number of atoms as carbon-12, but it has a mass of 15.999 grams. Oxygen, therefore, has a greater mass than carbon. This reasoning also can be applied to molecular or formula weights.

The concept of the mole helps to put quantitative information about what happens in a chemical equation on a macroscopic level. For example, in the chemical reaction 2H2O → O2 + 2H2, two moles of water are decomposed into two moles of molecular hydrogen and one mole of molecular oxygen. The mole can be used to determine the simplest formula of a compound and to calculate the quantities involved in chemical reactions. When dealing with reactions that take place in solutions, the related concept of molarity is useful. Molarity (M) is defined as the number of moles of a solute in a litre of solution.

The Editors of Encyclopaedia BritannicaThis article was most recently revised and updated by Erik Gregersen.

Mole | Definition, Number, & Facts (2024)

FAQs

Mole | Definition, Number, & Facts? ›

The MOLE (mol) is a unit of measurement that is the amount of a pure substance containing the same number of chemical units (atoms, molecules etc.) as there are atoms in exactly 12 grams of carbon-12

carbon-12
Carbon-12 (12C) is the most abundant of the two stable isotopes of carbon (carbon-13 being the other), amounting to 98.93% of element carbon on Earth; its abundance is due to the triple-alpha process by which it is created in stars.
https://en.wikipedia.org › wiki › Carbon-12
(i.e., 6.022 X 1023).

What are the facts about the mole number? ›

The mole designates an extremely large number of units, 6.02214076 × 1023. The General Conference on Weights and Measures defined the mole as this number for the International System of Units (SI) effective from May 20, 2019.

What is the mole number? ›

One mole of a substance is equal to 6.022 × 10²³ units of that substance (such as atoms, molecules, or ions). The number 6.022 × 10²³ is known as Avogadro's number or Avogadro's constant. The concept of the mole can be used to convert between mass and number of particles..

Why is a mole a special number? ›

The mole is important because it allows chemists to work with the subatomic world with macro world units and amounts. Atoms, molecules and formula units are very small and very difficult to work with usually. However, the mole allows a chemist to work with amounts large enough to use.

What is important about the mole? ›

A mole is a very important unit of measurement that chemists use. A mole of something means you have 602,214,076,000,000,000,000,000 of that thing, like how having a dozen eggs means you have twelve eggs. Chemists have to measure using moles for very small things like atoms, molecules, or other particles.

What are some interesting facts about Avogadro's number? ›

An Avogadro's number of standard soft drink cans would cover the surface of the earth to a depth of over 200 miles. If you had Avogadro's number of unpopped popcorn kernels, and spread them across the United States of America, the country would be covered in popcorn to a depth of over 9 miles.

How long do moles live? ›

Weight: 72-128g. Males usually larger. Lifespan: Most moles don't live beyond 3 years but can live up to 6 years.

Why is mole so significant? ›

1) Because atoms and molecules are so small, the mole concept allows us to count atoms and molecules by weighing macroscopically small amounts of matter. 2)It establishes a standard for determining the stoichiometry of reactions. 3)It provides an explanation of the properties of gases.

What do moles tell you? ›

A mole may be a sign of skin cancer if it has irregular borders or an asymmetrical shape, or if it changes in color, shape, size or height. This ABCDE guide can help you remember what to watch for: A is for asymmetrical shape.

What are moles related to? ›

The family Talpidae contains all the true moles and some of their close relatives. Those species called "shrew moles" represent an intermediate form between the moles and their shrew ancestors, and as such may not be fully described by the article.

What are the special traits of a mole? ›

Moles are highly specialized digging machines. They have a long tubular body, no external ears, and their limbs are close to their body. They have broad, shovel-like forelimbs that allow them to power through soil. They have very small eyes that are only good for light detection.

How was the mole number discovered? ›

The first rough estimate came courtesy of physicist Robert Millikan, who measured the charge of an electron. The charge of a mole of electrons, called a Faraday, was already known by the time Millikan made his discovery. Dividing a Faraday by the charge of an electron, then, gives us Avogadro's number.

How do you calculate moles number? ›

To calculate the number of moles of any substance in the sample, we simply divide the given weight of the substance by its molar mass.

Why is Avogadro's number important? ›

Importance of Avogadro's Constant

Simply put, it creates a bridge between the macroscopic world and the microscopic world by relating the amount of substance to the number of particles. It also provides the relationship between other physical constants and properties.

What are some unique facts about moles? ›

Their eyes are poorly developed, but what they lack in sight, they make up for in their sense of touch. All moles have very sensitive snouts and long, clawed digits that they use to dig tunnels. The 22 tentacle-like protrusions on the snout of the star-nosed mole are six times more sensitive to touch than a human hand.

Why is mole so special? ›

The classic mole version is the variety called mole poblano, which is a dark red or brown sauce served over meat. The dish has become a culinary symbol of Mexico's mestizaje, or mixed indigenous and European heritage, both for the types of ingredients it contains and because of the legends surrounding its origin.

What makes mole unique? ›

Perilla, cilantro, and the wild herbs de conejo, as well as the addition of peanuts and sesame also permeate the versatile mole—resulting in its exceedingly unique taste and texture. Given the many steps and myriad of ingredients, it's only natural that time and patience are of the essence during its preparation.

What is the secret of moles? ›

Moles on the forehead suggest leadership potential and wealth attraction, while moles near the eyebrows indicate artistic talents. A mole on the nose hints at charm and a magnetic personality, while a mole near the lips signifies sensuality and communication skills.

What is the symbol for mole? ›

The mole, symbol mol, is the SI unit of amount of substance. One mole contains exactly 6.022 140 76 x 1023 elementary entities. This number is the fixed numerical value of the Avogadro constant, NA, when expressed in the unit mol1 and is called the Avogadro number.

What are the two things that mole represents? ›

Two parameters which a mole represents are: Gram atomic mass or Gram molecular mass: The weight in grams which is present in one mole of a substance is called gram atomic mass (if the substance consists of atoms) or gram molecular mass (if the substance consists of molecules).

How many atoms are in a mole? ›

The value of the mole is equal to the number of atoms in exactly 12 grams of pure carbon-12. 12.00 g C-12 = 1 mol C-12 atoms = 6.022 × 1023 atoms • The number of particles in 1 mole is called Avogadro's Number (6.0221421 x 1023).

Who invented the mole in chemistry? ›

The name mole is an 1897 translation of the German unit Mol, coined by the chemist Wilhelm Ostwald in 1894 from the German word Molekül (molecule). The related concept of equivalent mass had been in use at least a century earlier.

What are the facts about moles on your body? ›

Moles can grow anywhere on your body, including your scalp and armpits, as well as under your nails and between your fingers and toes. Most people have 10 to 45 moles. Many of these moles occur by age 40. Moles may change or fade away over time.

What is a fun fact about Mole Day? ›

Celebrated annually on October 23 from 6:02 a.m. to 6:02 p.m., Mole Day commemorates Avogadro's Number (6.02 x 10²³), which is a basic measuring unit in chemistry. Mole Day was created as a way to foster interest in chemistry.

What determines number of moles? ›

To calculate the number of moles of any substance in the sample, we simply divide the given weight of the substance by its molar mass.

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