The MOLE
Concept
Ms. Subance
What is a mole?
Definition
• A mole is a measurement of atomic size particles. Atoms and molecules are so
small that in order to get one gram of an element of a compound, large molecules
are required.
• A mole is the number of atoms in 1g of hydrogen or 12g of carbon-12.
• One gram of hydrogen
contains 6.02 × 1023 of
hydrogen atoms which is also
known as Avogadro’s constant.
• Symbol for moles = mol
► Relative Atomic Mass (Ar) = the average mass of one atom of an element compared
with the mass of the carbon-12 atom, taken to be 12 units. This is expressed in grams
(g)
► Relative Molecular Mass (Mr) = this does not carry a unit and is the average mass of
one molecule of an element compared with the mass of the carbon-12 atom. This is
for molecular compounds.
► Relative Formula Mass or Molar Mass = the mass of any substance that contains a
mole of particles is called the molar mass. It is applied to the mass of a formula unit
of an ionic compound. Expressed as gram per mole (g/mol)
Relative Atomic Mass (Ar)
Formulae: no. of moles of atoms = mass of element in grams
Ar expressed in grams
Example:
1. How many moles of atoms are there in 36 grams of Carbon?
36g/12g = 3 moles
2. What is the mass of 0.25 moles of Sulphur atoms
32 × 0.25 mol = 8g
Relative Molecular Mass
Mass of 1 mole of a substance is equal to its relative molecular mass express in grams (Mr)
Formulae:
Number of moles of molecules = Mass of the substance in grams
Relative Molecular Mass Mr
Example:
1. How many moles of Carbon Dioxide are there in 11 grams of Carbon Dioxide
11g/44 = 0.25 mol
2. What is the mass of 2 moles of chlorine gas, Cl2?
1 mol Cl2 = 71g
2 mol Cl2 = 71 × 2 = 142g
Molar Mass
Examples:
1. Calculate the mass of 4 moles of Hydrogen Chloride.
H=1
Cl = 35.5
4 moles = 36.4 × 4 = 146g
2. What is the mass of two moles of Bromine gas
Bromine (Br) = 80
2 mol = mass (g) / 160 g
Mass (g) = 160 × 2 = 320g
3. Calculate the number of moles in 10g of calcium carbonate, CaCO3.
M(CaCO3) = 40+12+(3×16) = 100 gmol-1
Mass of 1 mol CaCO3 = 100g
no. of moles in 10g = 10/100 mol = 0.1mol
Percentage Composition
If you know the formula of a compound, then the percentage composition
given the mass of each element can be calculated.
Example:
• % of 0 in C6H5COOH – Benzoic Acid
= 16 × 2
72+5+12+32+1
= 32/122 × 100
= 26.2%
• % of Al in Al(HCO3)3 – Aluminium Hydrogen Carbonate
= 27
27+3+36+96
= 27/162 × 100
= 16.6%
Chemical Formulae – Empirical and molecular
• The empirical formula is the simplest formula or the simplest ratio of the elements present in a compound.
• The molecular formula is the true formula of a compound. It represents the actual number of atoms which are
present in a single molecule of that compound.
Example:
Empirical Formula
1. A compound of sodium contains the following percentage composition by mass; 32.4% sodium, 22.6% sulphur
and 45% oxygen.
Na : S : O
Step 1: Write the percentage by mass 32.4 22.6 45
Step 2: Divide each percentage by the Ar 32.4/23 22.6/32 45/16
(to obtain the moles)
1.4 0.7 2.8
Step 3: divide the answer in step 2 by 1.4/0.7 0.7/0.7 2.8/0.7
the smallest number (this is to
obtain the smallest ratio)
Step 4: Round off to the nearest whole number 2 1 4
Step 5: Write the formula Na2SO4
Chemical Formulae – Empirical and molecular
Molecular Formula
The molecular formula can be determined if we know the empirical formula and the relative molecular
mass of the molecule.
Example:
If propene has the empirical formula CH2 and its relative molecular mass of is 42. Find the molecular
formula of propene.
Let the molecular formula be (CH2)n
Since the Mr is 42, (12 + 1 × 2)n = 42
14n = 42
n
= 42/14
=3
Therefore the molecular formula is (CH2)3 = C3H6
2. A compound consists of 85.7% C and 14.3% H. Find the empirical formula of the
compound. And if the relative molecular mass is 56. Find it molecular formula.
C : H
Percentage by mass 85.7 14.3
Divide by Ar 85.7/12 14.3/1
Divide by smallest number 7.14/7.14 14.3/7.14
Ratio of atoms 1 2
Empirical Formula : CH2
Mass Molecular Formula :56
(CH2)n = 56
14n=56
n
= 56/14 = 4
(CH2)4 = C4H8
Moles and volume of gas
Avogadro’s Law states that all gases of equal volume under the same conditions of
temperature and pressure contain the same number of molecules.
There are two types of conditions chemists work under to calculate the molar volume of gases.
• S.t.p – Standard Temperature and Pressure. – temperature of 0°C, pressure of 1 atm.
Volume of 1 mol of any gas under stp = 22.4 dm3.
• R.t.p – Room Temperature and Pressure – temperature of 25°C, pressure of 1 atm. Volume
of 1 mol of any gas under rtp = 24 dm3
Volume of gas = Number of moles × 24dm3. Nb. If a condition is not given, you work with RTP.
Example: Calculate the volume of 0.25mol Nitrogen gas at RTP
vol of gas = # of moles × 24dm3
= 0.25 moles × 24dm3
= 6 dm3
Calculating number of moles given the volume of gas:
Number of moles = Volume of gas in dm3
molar volume(rtp or stp)
Example: What is the mass of 48dm3 of nitrogen gas at Rtp?
48 dm3 = ? × 24
# of moles = 48/24
= 2 mol
Mass = molar mass × moles
= 28 gmol-1 × 2 mol
= 56g
