It is National Mole Day!
Sorry cute (?), burrowing creature, it isn’t your day.
National Mole Day is celebrated by chemists and chemistry students on October 23rd. The mole is honored between 6:02 a.m. and 6:02 p.m. This makes the date 6:02 10/23, And where did that number come from and why does it deserve it’s own day?
6.02×10^23 is called the Avogadro Constant and it defines the number of particles (atoms or molecules) in one mole of substance.
The mass of a mole of substance is called the molar mass. The molar mass is used to convert grams of a substance to moles. The molar mass of an element is found on the periodic table, and it is the element’s atomic mass in grams/mole (g/mol). An interactive periodic table can be found here: http://chemistry.about.com/library/blperiodictable.htm. To explore calculating the mass of a single atom, you will also need to know the atomic mass. Want to try calculating an atomic mass? You can find an interactive example here: http://chemistry.about.com/od/workedchemistryproblems/a/avogadroexampl1.htm
In simple terms, a mole of anything is always 6.02×10²³. This invented unit is a consistent and convenient measuring unit much like saying a dozen or a byte.
How to celebrate National Mole Day, you ask?
1. Read a one of our many chemistry books! We have lots of resources, including:
Corwin, Charles H., Introductory Chemistry : Concepts and Critical Thinking, 7th edition. Boston : Pearson, 2014. Engineering Library FOLIO QD33.2 .C67 2014
Seager, Spencer L. Chemistry for Today : General, organic, and biochemistry. Belmont, CA : Brooks/Cole, 2014. Engineering Library FOLIO QD31.3 .S42 2014
2. Test your Mole knowledge by taking this quiz.
3. Tell mole jokes.
Where did Avogadro stay on is vacation? A mole-tel.
What do chemists wear when it’s cold? Ther-mole underwear.
4. Try a mole experiment.
5. Watch a New York Times science video about moles.
Resources:
Amedeo Avogadro Biography. The Famous People. Accessed Oct. 22, 2015
What Is a Mole and Why are Moles Used?. 2015. About Education.