Experiment 7: How the Mole can help determine how much and how many
(do you have problems with moles?)
Once upon a time in a galaxy far away there was a contest. To win the grand prize someone had to determine the number of coffee beans in a 10kg of beans. Many of those who looked at the huge jar gave up in frustration or tried in vain to make an estimate. Then came a clever mole who found a solution to the problem. First, the mole measured the mass of one coffee bean. it was 0.50g. Then, since all of the beans were about the same size, the mole divided the total mass of beans by the mass per bean. The result was the number of beans in the jar!
10kg X 1000g/1kg X 1 bean/0.50g = 20,000 coffee beans
Thus, the mole indirectly determined how many beans were in the jar measuring only masses and without counting every bean. The mole gained such fame from the discovery that to avoid publicity it went underground and has not been seen since!
*yes, this story is in my chem. lab book. Apparently I have gotten confused and gone to the 5th grade chem. lab and not the college level one*
Once upon a time in a galaxy far away there was a contest. To win the grand prize someone had to determine the number of coffee beans in a 10kg of beans. Many of those who looked at the huge jar gave up in frustration or tried in vain to make an estimate. Then came a clever mole who found a solution to the problem. First, the mole measured the mass of one coffee bean. it was 0.50g. Then, since all of the beans were about the same size, the mole divided the total mass of beans by the mass per bean. The result was the number of beans in the jar!
10kg X 1000g/1kg X 1 bean/0.50g = 20,000 coffee beans
Thus, the mole indirectly determined how many beans were in the jar measuring only masses and without counting every bean. The mole gained such fame from the discovery that to avoid publicity it went underground and has not been seen since!
*yes, this story is in my chem. lab book. Apparently I have gotten confused and gone to the 5th grade chem. lab and not the college level one*