Introduction:

However it is possible to compare the masses of atoms, they are as well small to be weighed. A chemical reaction always occurs between large numbers of reactant particles. The products which are formed as well include a large number of product particles. Chemists thus employ a large number of particles as a base unit whenever comparing amounts of different substances reacting or are formed in chemical reactions. This fundamental unit is the mole and the mole concept is one of the most significant concepts in Chemistry. The mole concept is applicable to each and every chemical processes.

The Mole Defined:

The mole is the amount of any substance which includes as many elementary particles as there are atoms in 0.012 kg of carbon-12. Now 0.012 kg of carbon - 12 includes the Avogadro number of atoms, therefore one mole of a substance is that amount that includes Avogadro number of particles. The elementary particles might be molecules, atoms, ions, electron and so on and should be specified. Avogadro number has been found out experimentally and is 6.02 x 10²³, a very large number certainly. A mole of a substance thus gives a quantity of material which can be computed for use in the laboratory.

1 mole = 6 02 x 10²³ particles

The Mole and the Molar Mass:

The atomic mass of an element is the mass of one atom of the element relative to the mass of one atom of Carbon-12 that by convention is represented a mass of 12.00 amu.

6.02 x 10²³ atoms of C-12 = 12g

1 atom of C-12 = 12g/6.02 x 10²³

Take helium (that is, relative atomic mass 4) as our first illustration.

Mass of 1 atom of He = (4/12) x (12/6.02 x 10²³) g

Mass of 1 mole He = [(4x12)/(12)] x [(6.02 x 10²³)/(6.02 x 10²³)]

                              = 4 g

Take oxygen (having relative atomic mass 15.99)

Mass of 1 atom of O = [(15.999 x 12)/(12 x 6.02 x 10²³)] x 10²³ x 12 g

                                = 15.999 g

From the above computation it is evident that the mole can as well be stated as the quantity of a substance whose mass in grams is numerically equivalent to the atomic, molecular or formular mass of the substance. The molar mass of a compound is the number of grams of the compound required to make up one mole of the compound that is, includes 6.02 x 10²³ molecules of the compound.

By this new definition of the mole we can compute the number of:

• Moles
• Particles
• Atoms and so forth in a given mass of a substance of acknowledged formula.

Table: A few substances and their molar masses

Substance         Formular     Formular mass     Molar mass (g)

Hydrogen gas       H₂              2.0                         2.0 g

Magnesium          Mg               24.0                       24.0g

Methane              CH₄             18.0                       18.0g

Water                  H₂0             18.0                        18.0g

Common salt      NaCl              58.5                       58.5g

Finding the Formula of a Compound:

This comprises the computation of the quantities of the elements comprised in the formation of the compounds. The theory of a mole is central in this kind of computations.

Illustration:

0.24g Magnesium is burnt in oxygen. The mass of magnesium oxide is found to be 0.40 g. Find out (a) the formula of magnesium oxide (b) the molar mass of magnesium oxide.

Solution: Mass of oxygen in magnesium oxide

= 0.40 - 0.24 = 0.16 g

0.24g Mg merges with 0.16g O

OR (multiply x 100 to take away the decimal point)

24g Mg merges with 16g O to form 40g of magnesium oxide.

Mole of magnesium = 24/24 = 1

Mole of Oxygen = 16/16 = 1

1 mole of magnesium merges with 1 mole of oxygen in magnesium oxide

Formula = MgO

Molar mass = 24 + 16 = 40g.

Computing the percentages of elements in a compound:

Illustration: Compute the percentage of oxygen in water.

Solution: The formula of water is H₂O

Formula mass = 2 + 16 = 18g

Mass of 1 mole = 18g.

Percentage of oxygen = (16/18) x 100 = 88.9

Employing Empirical Formula to compute unknown Atomic Mass of an Element:

Illustration:

The empirical formula of non-metallic oxide is XO₂, here 'X' stands for the chemical symbol of the element having unknown atomic mass. 0.80g of X is burnt in oxygen and the mass of the metal oxide found to be 1.60g.

Given that the atomic mass of oxygen is 16, find out the atomic mass of X.

Solution:

The mass of oxygen in compound = 1.60 - 0.80 = 0.80g

Mole of oxygen = 0.80/16 = 0.05

From the formula XO₂,

Ratio X: O is 1:2

2 mol O merge with 1 mole x

0.05 mol O will merge with 0.05 x 1/2 = 0.025 mol X

0.025 mol X = 0.8g

1 mol X = 0.8/0.025 = 32 g

Molar mass is 32

Mole in Chemical Reactions (Yield and percentage yield):

The above is much significant in chemistry as it allows for the computation of yields expected even before the experiment is taken out. A balanced chemical equation of the reaction is all that is needed.

FeO (s) + CO (g) → Fe (s) + CO₂ (g)

Mole ratio of reactant             of product

1: 1                                          1: 1

1 mole FeO + 1 mole CO → 1 mole Fe(s) + 1 mole CO₂ (g) or in terms of masses.

72g FeO + 28g CO → 56g Fe + 44g CO₂

Assume that we need to produce 2.8g Fe(s)

Mole Fe(s) needed = 2.8/5.6 = 0.05

Mole FeO required as reactant = 0.05 x 72 = 3.6 g

Mole CO = .05 x 28 = 1.4 g

Computation of percentage yield:

In most of the reactions the conversion of reactant to product is not frequently complete. The percentage yield provides the ratio of the experimental yield to a theoretical yield supposing complete reaction.

Taking the last illustration:

Assume that 3.6g of FeO reacts with adequate CO (g) and only 2.2g of Fe(s) is made up of.

% yield = (Yield from experiment/yield expected) x 100

            = (2.2/2.8) x 100

            = 78.571 %

Molar volume for gases:

At a temperature of 273 and pressure of 1 atmosphere generally known as (STP), a mole of any gas occupies a volume of 22.4 dm³. This is known as the molar volume.

1 mole of a gas occupies a volume of 22.4 dm³ at S.T.P. Now taking the reaction:

FeO (s) + CO (g) → Fe(s) + CO₂ (g)

At S.T.P,

22.4 dm³ of CO (g) = 1 mole CO (g)

22.4 dm³ of CO₂ (g) = 1 mole CO₂ (g)

Illustration: Compute the volume of CO needed at S.T.P. to react fully with 3.6g FeO.

FeO (s) + CO (g) → Fe(s) + CO₂ (g)

Mole ratio FeO: CO = 1:1

Mole FeO in 3.6g FeO = 3.6/72 = 0.05

Mole CO required = 0.05

Volume CO required at S.T.P.

= 0.05 x 22.4 dm³

= 0.112 dm³  

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