2.2 AS Level

The mole and the Avogadro constant

7 flashcards to master this topic

Definition Flip

Define the term 'mole'.

Answer Flip

A mole is the amount of substance containing the same number of particles (atoms, molecules, ions, etc.) as there are atoms in 12 grams of carbon-12. It's a counting unit for chemistry.

Definition Flip

What is the Avogadro constant (NA), and what is its value?

Answer Flip

The Avogadro constant (Nₐ) is the number of constituent particles (usually atoms or molecules) that are contained in the amount of substance given by one mole. Its value is approximately 6.022 x 10²³ mol⁻¹.

Calculation Flip

How do you calculate the number of moles in a given mass of a substance?

Answer Flip

Number of moles (n) = mass (m) / molar mass (M).

Example: To find the moles in 24g of Carbon (M = 12 g/mol): n = 24g / 12 g/mol = 2 moles.
Key Concept Flip

What is the relationship between the number of particles, the number of moles, and the Avogadro constant?

Answer Flip

Number of Particles = Number of Moles x Avogadro Constant (N = n x Nₐ). This equation allows conversion between the number of moles of a substance and the number of individual particles it contains.

Calculation Flip

A sample contains 3.011 x 10²³ molecules of a compound. How many moles of the compound are present?

Answer Flip

Moles = Number of particles / Avogadro's constant. Therefore, moles = (3.011 x 10²³) / (6.022 x 10²³) = 0.5 moles.

Key Concept Flip

Explain why the mole is a useful concept in chemistry.

Answer Flip

The mole provides a convenient way to relate masses of substances to the number of atoms, molecules, or ions present. It bridges the macroscopic world (grams) to the microscopic world (atoms).

Definition Flip

Define molar mass.

Answer Flip

Molar mass (M) is the mass of one mole of a substance, usually expressed in grams per mole (g/mol). It is numerically equal to the substance's atomic or molecular weight in atomic mass units (amu).

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2.1 Relative masses of atoms and molecules 2.3 Formulas