UNIT

5
The Mole
How Can Particles be Counted by
Weighing?
The first hypothesis to present is the supposition that the
number of integral molecules in any gases is always the same
for equal volumes, or always proportional to the volumes.
Amadeo Avogadro (17761856)

Engage: What is the Mass of an Object in a Sealed Box?

A. On the periodic table, the number 12.01 is written beneath the symbol for carbon. The
number 14.01 is beneath the symbol for nitrogen, and 16.00 is below oxygens symbol.
What do these numbers mean?

1.

Your teacher will provide you with a group of containers partly filled with paperclips.
All paperclips in any given container are identical, but the size of the paperclips varies
among the containers. One container in your group is empty, and all of the others
contain exactly the same number of paperclips. Do not open the containers. Determine
the mass of each container to 0.1 gram.

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2.

What is the mass of the contents of each container?

3.

There is the same number of paperclips in each container. Why do the contents of the
containers have different masses?

4.

Lets assign the lightest clip a mass of 1 relative clip mass unit, rcmu. What is the mass
of the heavier clips in rcmu? Explain the reasoning you used to answer this question.

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5.

You do not know the number of paperclips in the containers, but you do know that
there is the same number in each container. We can invent a term to describe that
number. Since 12 is a dozen, lets call the number of clips in each container a bozen
(rhymes with dozen). What is the mass of the lightest clip in grams per bozen?

6.

What is the relationship between the rcmu and the gram?

7.

Assume that the size of a paperclip container is directly proportional to the number of
clips it contains. What would be the mass of the contents of a container exactly twice
the size of the one you worked with in this exercise? Answer in g and rcmu.

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Explore: How Can We Determine the Relative Masses

of Elements?
8.

Imagine that you have a pair of magnets. What happens when you bring opposite poles
together end-to-end? What happens when you bring the same poles together?

9.

When objects become electrically charged, they can have a positive charge or a negative
charge. These charges act similar to magnets: like charges repel and opposite charges
attract. If we create a negative charge on the surface of ultra-light ping pong balls, how
would these balls behave when we roll them toward one another?

10. Now imagine that we place 10 identically-charged balls in a large flexible-walled balloon.
The balloon is made of a material that is so light, the interaction of the balls with its
surface keeps it at a constant volume. The inner surface of the balloon also has the same
charge. We send this balloon into outer space so that there is no gravitational effect. We
then shake the balloon to get the balls to start moving, and the balloon expands until
the force of the balls balances the elasticity of the material. Explain how the ping pong
balls will behave inside of this balloon.

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The Mole

11. Scientists believe that our model of ping pong balls in a thin, flexible-walled balloon is
similar to what happens when the particles that make up air are enclosed in a rubber
balloon. The model that describes the behavior of gases is called the kinetic molecular
theory. The term kinetic refers to motion. The particles that make up a gas are
constantly in motion. Additionally, the higher the temperature, the faster the particles
move. The term molecular refers to the particulate nature of matter. Gases consist of tiny
molecular particles. In this context, theory refers to a model. Thus, kinetic molecular
theory is a model that depicts gases as tiny, molecular particles that are constantly in
motion.
12. What will happen if you partially fill a balloon with air, and then you add more air,
doubling the number of molecules within in it? No other variable is changed.
Specifically, what happens to the volume of the balloon? Explain.

13. Use kinetic molecular theory to explain what happens at the particulate level to cause
the macroscopic effect you described in the previous question.

Thinking About Your Thinking

Mental Models

14. Describe, using words, the relationship between the volume of a gas and the number of
particles in the sample, when all other variables are held constant.

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15. Using the symbol V for volume and n for number of particles, write a mathematical
expression stating the proportionality between the volume of a gas and the number of
particles in the sample. The symbol means is proportional to.

16. Using k as the proportionality constant, write the mathematical expression in the form
of an equation that relates the volume and number of particles.

The air we breathe is about

80% nitrogen and 20% oxygen.

17. Consider four different elements that exist as gases at room temperature and pressure:
nitrogen, oxygen, hydrogen, and chlorine. Four identical balloons are filled, one with
each gas, to exactly the same volume. If these balloons are at the same temperature and
pressure, can you draw conclusions about the relative number of particles in each? What
can you say about the relative mass of the contents of each balloon?

18. In Unit 2, you used experimental evidence to show that the volume of a fixed amount
of gas depends on temperature and pressure. When people communicate the results of
investigations with gases that involve reporting the volume of the gas, they must also
state the temperature and pressure at which that volume was measured. To simplify the
literally infinite number of temperature and pressure conditions at which gas volumes
can be measured, scientists have agreed to report gas volumes at standard temperature
and pressure, 0C and 760 mm Hg, whenever possible. The table below shows the
mass and STP volume of balloons filled with four different elements.
Element
Nitrogen
Oxygen
Hydrogen
Chlorine

Mass of
Empty
Balloon (g)
1.46
1.57
1.32
1.31

Mass of Filled
Balloon (g)
29.48
33.57
3.34
72.21

Water Volume
Without
Balloon (L)
6.78
3.64
5.90
7.23

Water Volume
With Balloon
(L)
29.18
26.04
28.30
29.63

The volume of the balloon was determined by water displacement. A large container
was partially filled with a measured volume of water. The balloon was then submersed
in the water, and the resulting volume of the water plus balloon was measured. The
volume of the balloon is the difference in the two volume measurements.
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19. What is the volume of each gas? What is the relationship between these volumes? Why
do they have this relationship?

20. Determine the density of each gas.

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Explain
21. Use the density data from the previous question to determine the relative masses of the
four elements. Assign the lightest element a mass of 1 atomic mass unit, amu. What is
the mass of the heavier elements in amu? Explain the reasoning you used to answer this
question.

22. The symbols used to represent the elements whose relative masses youve calculated are:
nitrogen, N
oxygen, O
hydrogen, H
chlorine, Cl
Locate these elemental symbols on the periodic table. What is the relationship between
the atomic masses you calculated (to the ones place) and the numbers below the
symbols of the elements on the periodic table?

23. What is the atomic mass of helium, He? neon, Ne? carbon, C? Explain how you
answered these questions.

24. Scientists use the term mole to describe the number of particles in 22.4 L of a gas at
0C and 760 mm Hg. They also use the term molar mass to describe the mass of a
mole of a substance. Use the experimental data provided in this unit to determine the
molar mass of nitrogen. Explain your reasoning.

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25. How does the molar mass of nitrogen compare with its atomic mass? What is the same
and what is different?

26. What is the molar mass of oxygen, hydrogen, chlorine, helium, neon, and carbon?

27. Which sample has the greater number of particles: 39.95 grams of argon, symbol Ar, or
83.80 grams of krypton, symbol Kr? Explain your reasoning.

28. Which sample has the greatest mass: 2 moles of carbon or 2 moles of silicon, symbol Si?
Explain your reasoning.

29. What is the mass of 3.0 moles of carbon? Explain.

30. How many moles of particles are in 80.72 grams of neon? Explain.

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Elaborate: How is the Volume of a Gas Related to Its

Other Measurable Properties?
31. In Unit 2, you used experimental data to show that the volume of a gas is proportional
to its absolute temperature. You also showed that the volume is inversely proportional
to its pressure. In this unit, you reasoned that the volume of a gas is directly
proportional to the number of particles in a sample. The number of particles, by
convention are counted in moles. Using symbols to express each of these relationships,
we have
VT

V 1

Vn

If one variable is proportional to two or more other variables, it is logical to assume that
it is proportional to the product of those variables. For example, if A X and A Y,
we can assume that A X Y. !
Express the relationship between volume and
temperature, the inverse of pressure, and number of particles in one proportionality.

32. Using R as the symbol for a proportionality constant, change the proportionality in the
previous question to an equation.

33. Rearrange your equation so that pressure and volume are on one side of the equal sign,
and the other three symbols are on the other side.

34. Youve just written the most common form of the ideal gas law. It is the mathematical
form of a model that describes an ideal gas, which is a gas that follows a relatively
simple particulate-level model. The model closely describes the actual behavior of gases.
35. Experiments have been conducted to determine the value of R, which is called the
universal gas constant. Use the following data to calculate the value of R: At 19C
and 721 mm Hg, 0.155 mole of a gas occupies 3.92 L.

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36. What is the value of the universal gas constant when the pressure is expressed in
atmospheres?

37. What volume will a gas occupy when 0.33 mole of the gas is at 741 mm Hg and 15C?

38. What is the pressure of 1.23 moles of oxygen gas with a volume of 675 mL at 11C?

39. How many moles of gas particles are in a 55-liter nitrogen cylinder at 18C and 2.20 atm
pressure?

40. A balloon is filled with 0.0368 mole of air. The air is at the same pressure of the room in
which it is located, 755 mm Hg. It has a volume of 0.90 L. What is the temperature (C)
of the air in the balloon?

41. A gas cylinder has a volume of 2.0 liters. It is filled with helium until the pressure is 5.5
atm and the temperature is 35C. What mass of helium is in the cylinder?

42. A neon sign is filled with 0.50 grams of neon at 75C and 1.1 atm. What is the volume
of the gas within the sign?

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Appendix 1: Gas Properties and Kinetic Molecular

Theory
The air that surrounds us is a sea of mixed gases called the atmosphere. It is not
necessary, then, to search very far to find a gas whose properties we may study. Some of
the familiar characteristics of airin fact, of all gasesare the following:
1.

Gases may be compressed. A fixed quantity of air may be made to occupy a

smaller volume by applying pressure. Figure 5.1(a) shows a quantity of air in a
cylinder having a leakproof piston that can be moved to change the volume
occupied by the air. Push the piston down by applying more force, and the
volume of air is reduced (Fig. 5.1[b]).

2.

Gases expand to fill their containers uniformly. If less force were applied to the
piston, as shown in Figure 5.1(c), air would respond immediately, pushing the
piston upward, expanding to fill the larger volume uniformly. If the piston were
pulled up (Fig. 5.1[d]), air would again expand to fill the additional space.

3.

All gases have low density. The density of air is about 0.0012 g/cm3. The density
of water is 770 times greater than the density of air, and iron is 6000 times more
dense than air, when all are at room temperature.

Figure 5.1 Compression and expansion properties of gases. The piston and cylinder show that gases
may be compressed and that they expand to fill the volume available to them.

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4.

Gases may be mixed. Theres always room for more is a phrase that may be
applied to gases. You may add the same or a different gas to a gas already
occupying a rigid container of fixed volume, provided there is no chemical
reaction between them.

5.

A confined gas exerts constant pressure on the walls of its container uniformly
in all directions. This pressure, illustrated in Figure 5.2, is a unique property of a
gas, independent of external factors such as gravitational forces.

The Mole

What Particulate-Level Model is Used to Explain Gas

Properties?
As you study this section, work to achieve these learning goals:
Explain or predict physical phenomena relating to gases in terms of the
ideal gas model.
In trying to account for the properties of gases, scientists have devised the kinetic
molecular theory. The theory describes an ideal gas model by which we can visualize
the nature of the gas by comparing it with a physical system we can either see or readily
imagine. As always, chemists explain observable macroscopic phenomena in terms of
particulate behavior.
The main features of the ideal gas model are as follows:
1.

Gases consist of particles moving at any given instant in straight lines (Fig. 5.3).
Particle motion explains why gases fill their containers. It also suggests how
they exert pressure. When an individual particle strikes a container wall, it exerts
a force at the point of collision. When this is added to billions upon billions of
similar collisions occurring continuously, the total effect is the steady force that
is responsible for gas pressure.

Figure 5.3 Particle motion in a

gas. Particles collide with each
other and with the walls of the
container, the latter being
responsible for the pressure the gas
exerts.
Figure 5.2 Pressure in gases and liquids. Each container has four pressure gauges, one on top, one on
bottom, and two on the side. Note how the four gauges on the gas container all read the same pressure,
but the liquid gauges show that pressure increases with increasing depth. Gas pressures are exerted
uniformly in all directions; liquid pressures depend on the depth of the liquid.

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Figure 5.4 An ideal gas particle

collides with the walls of the
container without losing energy.
The energy of the particle is the
same before (E1), during (E2), and
after (E3) the collision with the
container wall: E1 = E2 = E3.

2.

Molecules collide with each other and with the container walls without loss of
total kinetic energy (Fig. 5.4). If gas particles lost energy or slowed down as a
result of these collisions, the combined forces would become smaller, and the
pressure would gradually decrease. Furthermore, because of the relationship
between temperature and average molecular speed, temperature would drop if
energy were lost in collisions. Any enclosed gas would eventually become a
liquid because of this loss of energy. But these things do not happen, so we
conclude that energy is not lost in molecular collisions, either with the walls or
between molecules.

3.

Gas molecules are very widely spaced (Fig. 5.5). Gas molecules must be widely
spaced; otherwise the densities of gases would not be as low as they are. One
gram of liquid water at the boiling point occupies 1.04 cm3. When changed to
steam at the same temperature, the same number of molecules fills 1670 cm3, an
expansion of 1600 times! If the water molecules were touching each other in the
liquid state, they must be widely separated in the gaseous state. Compressing
and mixing gases are possible because of the open spaces between gas
molecules.

4.

The actual volume of molecules is negligible compared to the space they occupy.
The total volume of the actual molecules in one gram of water is the same
regardless of its state of matter. The 1.04-cm3 volume mentioned previously for
one gram of water in the liquid state is 0.06% of the 1670-cm3 total volume the
molecules occupy as a gas, which qualifies as negligible.

5.

Gas molecules behave as independent particles; attractive forces between them

are negligible. The large distances between gas particles ensure us that
attractions between these molecules are negligible.

Figure 5.5 Suppose you were to select a sample of liquid water that contained 100 molecules. If you
then selected 15 more samplestotal 16of the same volume, each sample would contain 100
molecules. This would be a total of 1600 molecules in the 16 samples. If you were to then select 16
separate samples of steam, each sample having the same volume as each sample of liquid water, how
many water molecules would be in each sample? On average, 15 of the sample volumes of steam
would be emptyno moleculesand the 16th sample volume would contain only one water molecule.

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The Mole

Homework Questions
Mass, Molar Mass, and Moles
1.

What is the molar mass of iron, Fe, and copper, Cu?

2.

The atomic mass of an element is 22.99 amu. What is the elemental symbol of that
element?

3.

What is the mass of 0.248 mole of helium, He?

4.

How many moles of magnesium (Mg) atoms are in a 12.5-gram sample of the pure
metal?

5.

How many moles of neon gas, Ne, are in 44.8 L at 0C and 760 mm Hg? What is the
mass of the gas?

6.

What volume will be occupied by 119.85 grams of argon gas at 0C and 760 mm Hg?

Ideal Gases
7.

What is the temperature (C) of a 3908-mL sample of hydrogen at 744 mm Hg if there

are 0.55 moles of particles in the sample?

8.

How many moles of helium, He, are in 18.3 L of the gas at 188C and 0.559 atm? What
is the mass of the gas?

9.

What volume will be occupied by 0.056 mole of oxygen at 22C and 885 mm Hg?

10. In the United States, pressure is often expressed in pounds per square inch, psi. One
atmosphere is equal to 14.7 psi. What is the volume occupied by 3.38 moles of an ideal
gas when it is at a pressure of 15.5 psi and a temperature of 72F?
11. Gauge pressure is the pressure of a gas above atmospheric pressure. For example, if a
tire pressure gauge reads 28 psi, it indicates that the pressure in the tire is 28 psi above
atmospheric pressure. On a day when the atmospheric pressure is 14.7 psi, a 40.0-L auto
tire is inflated to 28 psi. If the temperature is 65F, what is the number of moles of gas
particles in the tire? If the molar mass of air is 29 g/mol, what is the mass of air in this
tire?
12. What will be the gauge pressure of a 41.3-L tire at 54F that contains 151 grams of air?

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A gauge for measuring

tire pressure. A typical tire
gauge measures the
pressure above
atmospheric pressure.
Image courtesy of Goulds
Pumps/ITT Industries.