# What is a "mole"?

Jul 4, 2017

Well $\text{one mole}$ is A NUMERICAL TERM.............

#### Explanation:

And this question is PRECISELY AKIN to asking............

$\text{How many eggs are there in a dozen eggses.......?}$

So.............

$\text{How many oxygen atoms are there in a mole of ethyl alcohol....?}$

$\ldots \ldots \ldots \ldots \ldots \ldots \ldots \text{H"_3"CCH"_2"OH} \ldots \ldots \ldots \ldots \ldots \ldots .$

Why, $\text{ONE MOLE}$ because in a $46 \cdot g$ mass of ethyl alcohol, there is a $16 \cdot g$ mass of oxygen atoms. And there are in addition $\text{2 MOLES}$ of $\text{carbon atoms}$; and $\text{8 MOLES}$ of $\text{hydrogen atoms}$ in that molar quantity of ethanol...... And the combined masses of these elements is approx. $46 \cdot g$. Are you with me?

A mole specifies $\text{Avogadro's no.}$ of atoms, $6.022 \times {10}^{23} \cdot m o {l}^{-} 1$. Why do we use such an ABSURDLY large number? Because it is the link between the sub-micro world of atoms and molecules, to the macro world of grams, kilograms, and litres....... One $\text{mole of}$ ""^1H $\text{atoms}$ of $\text{hydrogen atoms}$, ""^1H, has a mass of $1 \cdot g$. One $\text{mole of}$ ""^12C $\text{atoms}$, ""^12C, has a mass of $12 \cdot g$. And one $\text{mole of}$ ""^16O $\text{atoms}$, ""^16O, has a mass of $16 \cdot g$. And one $\text{mole of}$ of ethanol molecules, ${C}_{2} {H}_{5} O H$, has a mass of $46 \cdot g$......This mass equivalence is why we use the mole.

Are you following me?

$\text{So how many eggses are there in a dozen eggs........?}$