Name ___________________________________________ Date _____________

Discovering the Mole

6.02x1023

Avogadro’s number (6.02x1023) is the number of particles (atoms, molecules or formula units) that are
in a mole of a substance. Avogadro’s number is used as a conversion factor:
1 mol ______________ = 6.02x1023 ________________________

Ø Use dimensional analysis and significant figures in the following calculations.

Ø Counting numbers and defined constants have an infinite number of significant figures.

Procedure
A. Measurements
1. Measure the length of your food in cm. Measure as accurately as the ruler allows. ___________cm

2. Find the mass of your food by placing it in a massing dish and then onto the balance. Keep this as a
model to refer to over the course of the activity. Don’t eat/drink it. _______________ g

3. Determine the price of your food item and record. _______________ $

B. Calculations
1. How many days would it take to count to a million (1x106) if you were to increase a number each
second?

1,000,000 numbers

2. How many years would it take to count to a trillion (1x1012) if you were to increase a number each
second?

1x1012 numbers
3. How many centuries would it take to count to a mol (6.02x1023) if you were to increase a number
each second?

4. Calculate the price of a mol of your food item.

Compare the price of a mol of your food item to the national debt. The national debt is _________
How many of your food items would the national debt buy?

5. Determine the molar mass of your food item.

6. Determine the molar length. In other words, how far (in km) will a mole of your food item extend
into space?

7. Convert that distance into light years, (1 ly = 9.46x1015 m). Use your answer from 6 to start.

_______________ km _________________________________

8. Calculate the number of trips to the nearest star (other than the sun) that is the same distance as a
mole of your items. One trip to the nearest star, Proxima Centauri, is 4.22 ly. Start with 1 mol of
your food item, not the answers from above.

9. What did this activity teach you about the mole? ________________________________________
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