THE MOLE CONCEPT

Course content:
 Definition of the mole
 The Avogadro constant
 Relative atomic mass and formula mass
 Molar mass concept and relationships to the mole
 Mathematical relationships and examples
Introduction:
• This is the standard Unit (SI) for the quantity of matter that contains
as many elementary particles as there are atoms in 12 g of Carbon-12.
• These particles may be atoms, ions, molecules, radicals, electrons etc.
• One mole of any substance contains 6.02 x 1023 of the specified
particles of the substance. The mole is similar to the dozen which
contains a definite number of items 12 items irrespective of what the
item is e.g. 12 chairs, 12 windows, 12 balls, or 12 oranges each
constitute 1 dozen of the item in question..
• The number, 6.02 x 1023 for the mole is the Avogadro Constant, NA.
Examples:

• One mole of sodium contains NA i.e. 6.02 x 1023 atoms of sodium.

• One mole of hydrogen chloride contains 6.02 x 1023 molecules of hydrogen

chloride.

• One mole of chloride ions contains 6.02 x 1023 ( NA ) chloride ions.

• One mole of electrons contains 6.02 x 1023 electrons.

Molar Mass, Mr

• This is the mass of one mole

( 6.02 x 1023 particles ) of the substance.
• For elements, it is equal to the relative
atomic mass, RAM. for the element in grams.
• For compounds, it is equal to the relative formula mass, RFM of the compound in
grams.
• Molar mass of sodium, Na i.e. 6.02 x 1023 particles (atoms) is 23 g. since RAM of
Na = 23.
• Molar mass of Hydrogen Chloride, i.e. 6.02 x 1023 molecules. Given that
H = 1; Cl = 35.5, RFM for Hydrogen Chloride is 1+35.5 = 36.5 g.
• Molar mass of sodium hydroxide is 23+16+1 = 40 g.
Formula for Molar Mass
• Molar mass is the mass of one mole of the
substance.
• Given the mass of any substance with a known
molar mass, it is possible to find the number
of moles of a substance and vice versa using the
general formula
• No of moles, (n) = Mass (x g)
Molar Mass, (Mr)
Mass, x g = No of moles, n x Molar Mass, Mr
For elements, Molar Mass is equal to the relative atomic mass, RAM for
the element in grams while for compounds it is the relative
Calculating number of moles
from given mass of Elements
Example 1
a) Calculate the number of moles of
2.40 g of magnesium atoms.
• 24.00 g of magnesium is equivalent to 1 mole of magnesium atoms
• 1 g of magnesium is equivalent to 1 ÷ 24 moles
• ⸫ 2.40 g of magnesium is equivalent to 1 x 2.4 moles of magnesium
24
= 0.1 moles
Example 2

• b) Calculate the number of moles

of 2.40 g of carbon atoms
• 12 g of carbon is equivalent to 1 mole
of carbon
• 1.00 g of carbon is equivalent to 1 ÷ 12
moles of carbon
• ⸫ 2.40 g of carbon is 1 x 2.40 moles of carbon
12
= 0.2 moles
Example 3

• c) Calculate the number of moles of 2.00 g of Calcium atoms

• 40 g of Calcium is equivalent to 1 mole of Calcium
• 1 g of Calcium is equivalent to 1 ÷ 40 moles of Calcium
• ⸫ 2.4 g of Calcium is 1 x 2.0 moles of Calcium
40
= 0.05 moles
Calculating Molar mass of
Compounds
• The Molar Mass of compounds is equal to
the relative formula mass, RFM of the
compound in grams.
• It can be calculated as the sum of masses of atoms present in one
molecule of the compound.
• Going by the known relative atomic masses of the elements from
literature,
• Since RAM of sodium, Na = 23 and Cl = 35.5, then molar mass of
sodium chloride NaCl is given by 23 + 35.5 = 58.5
Use of Molar Mass of
Compounds
Example 1
Calculate the number of moles of 1.40 g
of Calcium oxide
• From [40+16 ] = 56
• 56.00 g of Calcium oxide is equivalent to 1 mole of Calcium oxide
• 1.00 g of Calcium oxide is equivalent to 1 ÷ 56 moles of Calcium oxide
• ⸫ 1.40 g of Calcium oxide is 1.00 x 1.4 moles of Calcium oxide
56 = 0.025 moles
Example 2

• Calculate the number of moles of 28.4 g

of sodium sulphate
• From RFM for sodium sulphate as given by 2(23) + 32 + 4(16) = 142
• 142 g of sodium sulphate is equivalent to 1 mole of sodium sulphate
• 1 g of sodium sulphate is equivalent to 1 ÷ 142 moles of sodium
sulphate
• ⸫ 28.4 g of sodium sulphate is 1 x 28.4 moles of sodium sulphate
142 = 0.2 moles
Example 3

• Calculate the number of moles of 33.4 g of magnesium

carbonate.
• Since RFM of magnesium carbonate is 24 + 12 +
3(16) = 84
• 84 g of magnesium carbonate is equivalent to 1 mole of magnesium carbonate
• 1 g of magnesium carbonate is equivalent to 1 ÷ 84 moles
• ⸫ 33.4 g of magnesium carbonate is 1 x 33.4 moles of magnesium carbonate 84

= 0.2 moles
Molar Volume, Vm

• This is the volume occupied by one mole of any gas at a

given temperature and pressure. At room temperature and
pressure, it is 24 dm3 while at standard temperature and
pressure (273K - 0oC and 76cm Hg), it is 22.4 dm3.
• No of moles of gas = Volume of Gas (dm3)
Molar Volume, Vm
Example 1
• Given 120 dm3 of Carbon dioxide gas at
room temperature and molar volume of
gases at room temperature and pressure
is 24 dm3, calculate:
• i) No of moles of carbon dioxide
• ii) Mass of the given volume of carbon dioxide
• i) 24 dm3 is equivalent to 1 mole of carbon dioxide
• 1 dm3 is equivalent to 1÷24 moles of carbon dioxide
• ⸫ 120 dm3 would be 1 x 120 moles of carbon dioxide = 5 moles
24  
• ii) 1 mole of CO2 has a mass of 12 + 2(16) = 44 g
• ⸫ 5 the moles would weigh 5 x 44 = 220 g
Example 2
Given 8.5 g of Ammonia gas at room
temperature, and that N=14, H=1 and
molar volume of ammonia at
r.t.p is 24 dm3, calculate:
• i) the number of moles of ammonia
• ii) the volume the quantity of ammonia would occupy at room
temperature
Solution:
• i) 14 + 3(1) = 17 g is equivalent to 1 mole
1 g represents 1÷17 moles of ammonia
⸫ 8.5 g of ammonia would be 1 x 8.5 = 0.5 moles
17
Example 2
Contd.

Solution
• ii) one mole occupies 24 dm3 at r.t.p
• ⸫ 0.5 moles occupies 24 x 0.5
= 1.2 dm3