Mole concept is a fundamental principle in chemistry that provides a way to count and measure substances at the atomic and molecular levels. One mole represents 6.022×1023 (atoms, molecules, ions, etc.) of a substance, which is known as Avogadro’s number. This concept is crucial because it allows chemists to relate macroscopic quantities of materials (grams) to the number of particles, facilitating calculations in chemical reactions and quantitative analysis.
Molar mass of a substance is calculated by summing the atomic masses of all the elements in its chemical formula, expressed in grams per mole (g/mol). For example, the molar mass of water (H₂O) is calculated as (2×1.01)+16.00=18.02 g/mol. Molar mass is useful because it connects the mass of a substance to the number of moles, allowing for conversions between mass, number of moles, and number of particles.
Empirical formula of a compound represents the simplest whole-number ratio of elements in that compound, The molecular formula shows the actual number of each type of atom in a molecule. The mole concept helps in determining both by analysing the moles of each element present in a sample and then deriving the ratios. For instance, the empirical formula of hydrogen peroxide is HO, while it is molecular formula is H₂O₂.
Mole concept is integral to gas laws, especially Avogadro’s law, which states that equal volumes of gases, at the same temperature and pressure, contain an equal number of moles. This principle implies that the volume of a gas is directly proportional to the number of moles, provided temperature and pressure are constant. For example, at standard temperature and pressure (STP), one mole of any gas occupies 22.4 liters.
Mole concept in a chemical reaction, consider the combustion of methane: CH4+2O2→CO2+2H2O Here, one mole of methane reacts with two moles of oxygen to produce one mole of carbon dioxide and two moles of water. Moles of reactants, we can calculate the moles (and thus the mass) of the products formed. If 16 grams (1 mole) of methane is burned, it will require 64 grams (2 moles) of oxygen and produce 44 grams (1 mole) of CO₂ and 36 grams (2 moles) of H₂O.
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