Lesson Plan Moles

Learning Outcomes:
Students will define the mole as the amount of an element containing 6.02 1023 atoms
(Avogadros number) and apply the concept to calculate quantities of substances made of other
chemical species.
Materials:
-

Scales (x3 per class)

Dixie cups/paper plates
Small candies (Nerds)
Medium candies (Smarties)
Large candies (jelly beans)

Procedure:
1. Hand out worksheet to students and outline the safety considerations of the activity
(notably, not to eat the candy during the activity).
2. Have students divide into small groups (~4-5 students per group) and instruct them to
collect materials for the first data table (i.e. candy, paper plate, Dixie cups)
3. Have students work through data table 1.
4. Once students have completed data table 1, connect the Bob quantity they measured and
used to Avogadros number for atoms and molecules. Use storytelling to show the number
is not random and to emphasize the reason the number is so large (i.e. a single atom weighs
so little).
5. Using standard moles of metal, show students the difference in size and mass between
different elements.
6. Instruct students to complete Data Table 2 in class or at home.

Name:____________________________________________
Class:________________
Introduction to the Mole (Handout)
Question:
Can you develop a numerical relationship to quantify the number of and mass of objects too
small to weigh individually?
Safety Precautions:
- Do not eat any candy during the activity.
- Do not eat any candy that has touched the scales.
Materials:
-

Balance
Nerds, Smarties, and jelly beans
Dixie cups x 3 per group
Paper plate x 1 per group

Procedure
1. Collect Nerds, Smarties, and jelly beans on a paper plate and collect three Dixie cups.
2. Using the Dixie cups as weigh boats, weigh the candy to fill in Data Table 1.
3. Clean up the candy.
4. Complete Data Table 2 in class (or at home if you run out of time)
5. Staple this page to your Outcome 3 booklet and hand in for assessment.
Data Table 1
What is the mass of 1 Nerd?
How many Nerds are in 1.5 g?
The number of Nerds in the space above will be called a Bob. For the remainder of the
chart, when you are asked to measure or count out a Bob, this is the number you will use.
1 Bob = ______________ candies
How many Bobs are in the Worlds Biggest Box of Nerds (680.3 g)?
How many Nerds are in Worlds Biggest Box of Nerds?
How many Bobs are 4 Nerds?
How many Bobs are 4000 Nerds?
What is the mass of 1 jelly bean?
What is the mass of a Bob of jelly beans?
What is the mass of 1 Smartie?
What is the mass of 0.5 Bobs of Smarties?
Data Table 2

Much like the Bob unit of measurement used above, atoms and molecules are represented
by a set quantity: Avogadros number. This number, 6.02x1023, is the number of individual
particles in a mole. The molar mass of each element, which is found on the periodic table, is
the mass of 6.02x1023 atoms (one mole) of that element.
What is the molar mass of Na (this is the mass of one mole of Na)?
What is the molar mass of Cl (this is the mass of one mole of Cl)?
What is the mass of 1 mole of NaCl(s)?
What is the mass of 0.20 moles of NaCl(s)?
How many molecules of NaCl(s) are in 0.20 moles of NaCl(s)?
Assume the candies weighed earlier are 100% sucrose (C12H22O11).
What is the mass of 1 mole of sucrose?
How many moles of sucrose are in 1 Nerd?
How many moles of sucrose are in 1 Smartie?
How many moles of sucrose are in 1 jelly bean?