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Student Exploration: Moles

Directions: Follow the instructions to go through the simulation. Respond to the questions and
prompts in the orange boxes.

Vocabulary: atomic mass, Avogadro constant, conversion factor, dimensional analysis, formula mass, formula
unit, mole, molar mass, scientific notation, significant figures, unified atomic mass unit

Prior Knowledge Questions (Do these BEFORE using the Gizmo.)

1. In the image there are a dozen donuts, a dozen eggs, and a dozen roses.
How many of each item do you have?

2. Would a dozen of each object have the same mass?

3. Suppose you have 12 carbon atoms, 12 gold atoms, and 12 iron atoms. Even though you have the same
number of each, would you expect them all to have the same mass? Explain.

Gizmo Warm-up
When counting roses, eggs, or donuts, a dozen is a good unit to use. If you are
counting atoms, however, a dozen is not much help. In the Moles Gizmo, you will learn
about a unit used to count atoms.

On the AVOGADRO CONSTANT tab, place the copper (Cu) atom on the nano-balance
on the left, which will show the average atomic mass of copper rather than the mass of
a single copper atom.

1. What is the average mass of a copper atom?

The unit “u” refers to unified atomic mass units. A single proton or neutron has a mass of approximately
one atomic mass unit. (Officially, 1 u is one-twelfth the mass of a C-12 atom.)

2. To gain an idea as to how many atoms are in a gram or so of copper, use the larger balance on the right.
Press Add atoms to put a scoop of atoms in the weighing dish, and keep adding until the balance registers
between 1 and 2 grams. If you don’t seem to be making much progress, adjust the exponent using the
slider, which will make the scoop size bigger. How many atoms did you need to add?

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 Get the Gizmo ready:
Activity A:
● Select the AVOGADRO CONSTANT tab.
Molar Mass ● Turn on Show hints and check that Copper (Cu)
is selected.

Introduction: Since atoms are so tiny, chemists have devised a unit known as the mole. A mole represents a
macroscopic quantity of matter that can be used in the laboratory. One mole of any element has the same
mass in grams as its atomic mass in u.

Question: How many particles are in a mole?

1. Explore: Note the average atomic mass of copper on the nano-balance. Add atoms to the larger balance
until it registers the same number (in g) as the reading on the nano-balance (in u). Use the Exponent slider
to help get the correct amount. Stop adding atoms when the readings on both balances match exactly (to
the nearest 0.001 g).

How many atoms did you need to add?

2. Explore: Repeat the same procedure with carbon, then sulfur and aluminum.

A. For each element, how many atoms did you

need to add?

B. What do you notice about the number of

atoms in one mole?

3. Discover: In each case, you measured out one mole of atoms, since the mass of one mole of any element,
in grams, is equal to its atomic mass, in u. One mole of any element contains the same number of atoms, a
number known as the Avogadro constant.

What is the exact value of the Avogadro constant?

4. Illustrate: The Avogadro constant is so large it is normally written in scientific notation. To get an idea of
the enormity of the Avogadro constant, write it out in standard form. (You will need to move the decimal
place to the right 23 times, so you will need to add a lot of zeros!)

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5. Compare: While the number of atoms in a mole is constant, the number of grams in a mole changes based
on the element. The number of grams in a mole (g/mol) is known as its molar mass, and has the same
numerical value as an element’s atomic mass (in u). Use the Gizmo to find the atomic and molar mass of
the following elements. Use proper units.

S: Atomic mass Molar mass

Al: Atomic mass Molar mass

6. Experiment: Select Copper(I) oxide, Cu2O. Note that Cu2O is a compound composed of different types of
atoms bonded together. Place the Cu2O formula unit on the nano-balance. (A formula unit of Cu2O
consists of two copper atoms and one oxygen atom.)
A. Formula mass is the average mass of one formula unit,
measured in unified mass units (u). What is the formula
mass of Cu2O?

B. Add formula units to the larger balance until its reading

matches that of the nano-balance exactly. How many
formula units did you need to add?

C. Repeat the above procedure with another compound of

your choice. How many formula units did you need to
add?
7. Summarize: Complete the following statements:

A. 1 mole of any element contains 6.0221 × 1023

B. 1 mole of any compound contains 6.0221 × 1023

8. Extend: For compounds, it is sometimes necessary to calculate the number of atoms of each element
within a formula unit. Select Iron(II) chloride. Note the image of the unit.

A. How many Fe atoms are within a single FeCl2

formula unit?

B. How many Cl atoms are within a single FeCl2

formula unit?

C. Use the nano-balance to find the mass of each of

these atoms:

Mass of Fe atom: Mass of Cl atom:

D. Find the sum of their masses (1 Fe atom + 2 Cl atoms):

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 E. Place the FeCl2 unit on the balance. Is the sum of the
masses of the individual atoms equal to the formula mass of
the compound?

9. Calculate: Select Copper(I) oxide. Note the image of the unit. Place it on the balance.

A. How many moles of copper would be needed

to make 1 mole of Cu2O?

B. How many grams of Grams of oxygen?

copper would you need?

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 Activity B: Get the Gizmo ready:
● Select the CONVERSIONS tab.
Conversions ● Select Carbon (C).

Introduction: Chemical formulas represent ratios. To make H2O, you need two atoms of H for each atom of O;
you would also need two moles of H for every mole of O. However, when performing experiments in the lab,
substances are measured in grams, not atoms or moles. Therefore, it is important to be able to convert freely
between atoms, moles, and grams.

Question: How do you convert particles to grams, and grams to particles?

1. Investigate: Note the empty jars on the shelf that can be filled by using the slider. Set the amount to 2.000
moles of carbon (mol C), then press Start. Each jar holds exactly one mole of carbon. Your goal is to
determine the mass in grams of two moles of carbon.

A. Before you can find the mass, what do you

need to know?

B. Turn on Show molar mass. What is the

molar mass of carbon?

C. What do you think the mass of 2.000 moles

of carbon will be?

D. Drag the jars to the balance. What is the

mass of 2.000 moles of C?

2. Estimate: Press Reset. Turn off Show hints. Using the first drop-down menu, select Grams. Set the
amount to 46.00 g of carbon, then press Start. (Note that the substance appears in the weighing dish on
the balance, not in the jars.)

A. How many mole jars do you think can be

filled with this amount?

B. How many mole jars do you think can be

filled with this amount?

C. Press Reset and start with 151.00 g of

FeCl2. How many mole jars do you think can
be filled with this amount?

D. Place jars under the balance to find the

mole amount. What is the value?
3. Summarize: Consider the procedures you used to do the calculations in questions 1 and 2.

A. How did you convert moles to grams?

B. How did you convert grams to moles?

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4. Investigate: Press Reset. Start with 2.000 moles of sulfur, then press Start.

A. How many atoms do you think this amount represents?

B. Pour the jars into the atom counter at left. How many atoms are there?

C. How can you calculate this value?

5. Estimate: Press Reset. Select Atoms, and using the slider, start with 1.000 × 1023 atoms of sulfur. (Note
that pressing Start puts atoms into the atom counter, not the jars.)

A. Is this amount more or less than one mole?

B. Place the jar underneath the counter. Was the jar completely filled?

C. How many moles do you have?

6. Calculate: Press Reset. Start with 1.900 × 1024 (or 19.00 × 1023) formula units of Cu2O.

A. Calculate the number of moles:

B. Use the Gizmo to verify your calculation. Were you correct?

C. Is the method for converting formula units to moles the same as

for atoms?

7. Summarize: Consider the procedures you used to do the calculations in questions 4 and 5.

A. How did you convert moles to atoms (or formula units)?

B. How did you convert atoms (or formula units) to moles?

8. Explain: Select Carbon and start with 2.0 × 1024 atoms. Press Start.

A. Use the Gizmo to find the number of grams:

B. Before you can find grams, what must you find first?

C. How did you convert from atoms to grams?

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