COUNTING ATOMS AND MOLECULES (THE MOLE CONCEPT) In chemistry we need to have a way of counting particles (atoms, molecules

or ions) without actually counting them like we count objects we can see and hold. The relative masses (atomic masses, molecular masses, formula masses) provide a way of counting atoms. How does this work? If you take relative masses such as those of the substances in the Table 16 and affix to them the same units of mass, then those amounts would contain the same number of basic particles as defined in the formula of the substance. Knowing the certain masses (expressed in amounts we can weigh like grams) contain the same number of particles, as defined by their formula, is the key to counting atoms, molecules or ions. The number of carbon-12 (C-12) atoms in exactly 12 grams of C-12 is 6.022 x 1023. This is called Avogadros number in honour of Amedeo Avogadro (1776-1856), an Italian scientist who is credited with the statement that Equal volumes of all gases at the same temperature and pressure contain equal volume numbers of molecules. The amount of substance consisting of 6.022 x 1023 particles of the substance is called one mole (abbreviated as mol) of that substance. The following puts together all the ideas about one mole of a substance: One mole of a substance: - Consists of 6.022 x 1023 particles of that substance; or - Has the same number of particles as exactly 12 grams of carbon12; - Has a mass equivalent to atomic, molecular or formula mass of the substance (as appropriate) expressed in grams. The mass in grams of one mole of a substance is called molar mass. The values in the third column of Table 16 are molar masses of the substances. The unit for molar mas is grams per mole (g/mol).

Table 16 Relative Masses and Number of Particles of Some Particles

Substance Atomic, Molecular or Formula Mass Exactly 12 amu Mass in Grams Significance of Amounts Number Particles of Quantity in Moles of Given Mass

C-12 (most stable isotope of carbon)

Exactly 12 g

O2 (elemental oxygen)

32.00 amu

32.00 g

C27H46O (cholesterol)

386.64 amu

386.64 g

Ca10(PO4)6(OH)2 (hydroxyapatite, tooth enamel)

1004.6 amu

1004.6 g

The number of C-12 atoms in exactly 12 grams of C12 is the same The number of O2 molecules in 32.00 grams of elemental oxygen and also the same as The number of C27H46O molecules in 386.64 grams cholesterol and also the same as The number of formula units of Ca10(PO4)6(O H)2 in 1004.6 grams hydroxyapati te.

6.022 x 10 12 atoms

23

C-

1 mole C-12

6.022 x 10 molecules

23

O2

1 mole oxygen

6.022 x 10 cholesterol molecules

23

1 mole cholesterol

6.022 x 10 Ca10(PO4)6(OH)2 formula units

23

1 mole hydroxyapatite