The mole concept

Ref: Ch 5- pp118 - 123

Chemical reactions almost always involve large numbers of atoms, ions or molecules. To avoid having to compare
large numbers, chemists have determined the mass of a given number of these particles and measurements of
masses of species are scaled accordingly. Chemists use the mole to compare the amounts of reactants and products.

A mole of a substance is the amount of the substance that contains as many specified particles (atoms, ions,
molecules, electrons and so on) as there are atoms in exactly 12 g of carbon-12.

1 mole = 6.022  1023 = the number of atoms in 12 g of carbon-12

Symbols and Units

Amount of substance
Symbol – n
Unit – mol

Fill in the blanks

There are ________________ atoms of carbon in 12 g of carbon-12.
________________ is called Avogadro’s constant, NA.
There are ________________ number of particles in 1 mole of a
substance.

Experimentally it has been found that a mass (in grams) equal to the relative atomic mass of any element measures
out to Avogadro’s number of atoms.

For convenience, we often use; NA = 6.02  1023. Remember your rules for operating with indices:
Ideally Avogadro's Constant should not be the factor that
A. 10a  10b = 10a+b e.g. 102  103 = 105
determines the number of significant digits used in
quoting an answer B. 10a = 10a–b e.g. 106 = 104
10b 102

C. a0 = 1 e.g. 100 = 1

Definitions
Converting number of particles to number of moles

Number of particles
Number of moles 
Avogadro' s number
N
n
NA

Converting number of moles to number of particles

Number of particles  Number of moles  Avogadro' s number
N  n NA

1
Questions
1. How many atoms are there in:
a. 1.03 mol of carbon? b. 0.308 mol of potassium?

c. 4.07 mol of silver? d. 1.81  10–5 mol of tin?

2. How many molecules are there in:

a. 1.0 mol of fluorine gas (F2)? b. 8.0 mol of hydrogen chloride (HCl)?

c. 0.0147 mol of iodine (I2)? d. 3.426  10–6 mol of ethane (C2H6)?

3. How many moles are in:

a. 6.02  1023 atoms of lithium?

2
b. 1.83  1024 atoms of iron?

c. 2.77  1024 molecules of propane (C3H8)?

4. A sample of methane (CH4) contains 3.18  1022 molecules.

a. Calculate the number of moles of CH4 in the sample.

b. Calculate the number of moles of H atoms in the sample.

Text Questions: TYQ – 5.2.1 – 5.2.3, KQ 1-4 p123

3
Molar mass
Ref: Ch 5 pp124 - 128

Particles of different elements or compounds have different masses. The mass of one mole of a substance (i.e. 6.02 
1023 particles or Avogadro’s number of particles) is referred to as its ______________ ______________.

Symbols and Units

Molar Mass
Symbol – M
Unit – g.mol–1

The molar mass (symbol, M) can be worked out by calculating the relative formula mass (symbol, Mr) of a substance.
The molar mass is the equivalent of taking the relative formula mass measured in g.mol–1.

Questions
1. Determine the molar mass of hydrogen sulfide.
First calculate the relative formula mass of hydrogen sulphide.
Mr(H2S) = 2  Ar(H) + Ar(S) = ________________________________

The molar mass of hydrogen sulfide is equal to the relative molecular mass expressed in g.mol–1.
Therefore, M(H2S) = _________________________ g.mol–1

2. Determine the molar mass of sucrose (C12H22O11).

Mr(C12H22O11) = 12  Ar(C) + 22  Ar(H) + 11 x Ar(O) = ________________________________
Therefore, M(C12H22O11) = _____________________________ g.mol–1

3. Determine the molar mass of potassium iodide (KI).

M(KI) =

4. Determine the molar mass of hydrated iron (II) sulfate (FeSO4.7H2O).

Mr(FeSO4.7H2O) = Ar(Fe) + Ar(S) + _______  Ar(O) + _______  Mr(H2O)
= ________________________________________________
= ______________
Therefore, M(FeSO4.7H2O) = _____________________________ g.mol–1

Text Questions: TY 5.3.2, KQ 1, 4, 5 p128

4
The relationship between mass, moles and molar mass
Ref: Ch 5 p125

Definitions
Converting mass to number of moles

Mass
Number of moles 
Molar mass
m g 
n mol  
M g mol 

Converting number of moles to mass

Mass  Number of moles  Molar mass

mg   nmol   M g.mol 1 
Questions
1. Find the mass of 1.0 mole of lithium.
M(Li) = 6.9 g.mol–1
Hence 1.0 mole of lithium = ______________________ g of lithium

2. Find the mass of 0.20 mol of silver.

M(Ag) = 107.9 g.mol–1
m(Ag) = n x M
=
= (2 significant digits)

3. Find the mass of 1.0 mol of hydrogen gas (H2).

M(H2) = _________________ g.mol–1
Hence m(H2) =
=

4. Find the mass of 0.605 mol of trichloromethane (CHCl3).

M(CHCl3) = ____________________________________________________________ g.mol–1
m(CHCl3) =
=

5. Find the mass of 2.42 mol of hydrated sodium carbonate, Na2CO3.10H2O.

M(Na2CO3.10H2O) =
=
m(Na2CO3.10H2O) =
=

5
6. How many moles are in 40g of helium?
M(He) = ____________________ g.mol-1
m(He) = 40 g
m
n
M

nHe  
4.0 g
 _______________ mol
4.0 g.mol 1

7. How many moles are in 3.20 g of sulfur dioxide?

M(SO2) =

Text Questions: TY 5.3.1, KQ 2,3 p 128

6
Relationships involving number of particles, mass and moles
Ref: Chp 4, pp. 62–65

From previous sections (B & D) we have identified two relationships involving the amount of
substance (mol):

N
n
NA

Where:
n = amount of substance (mol)
N = number of particles e.g. number of atoms, molecules, ions etc.
NA = Avogadro’s number = 6.02  1023
And

m
n
M
Where:
n = amount of substance (mol)
m = mass (g)
M = molar mass (g.mol–1)
This means that if we are given the mass of substance present, we can determine the number of particles.
Alternatively, if we are given the number of particles, we can determine the mass.

Questions
1. What is the mass of 4.55  1023 atoms of sulfur?
N(S) = 4.55  1023 atoms
M(S) = 32.1 g.mol–1

4.55  10 23 atoms
n S 
N

N A 6.02  10 23 atoms mol
= 0.7558 mol (Note – Keep an extra significant figure at this stage. Do not round off until the final answer)
m(S) = n  M
= 0.7558 mol  32.1 g.mol–1
= 24.3g (3 significant digits allowed)

7
2. What is the mass of 6.02  1022 molecules of carbon dioxide?
M(CO2) =

nCO 2  
N
NA
=

m(CO2) = n  M =

3. How many atoms are there in 2.95 g of nickel?

N(Ni) = ?
m(Ni) = 2.95 g
M(Ni) = 58.7 g.mol-1

nNi 
m 2.95 g
  0.05026 mol
M 58.7 g.mol 1
N(Ni) = n  NA = 0.05026 mol  6.02  1023 atoms/mol = 3.03  1022 atoms (3 sig. fig.s)

4. How many molecules in 9.2 g of nitrogen dioxide (NO2)?

M(NO2) =

n(NO2) =

N(NO2) =

8
Summary of Quantities
Quantity Quantity Symbol Unit Unit Symbol
Relative isotopic mass Ir – –
Relative atomic mass Ar – –
Relative formula mass Mr – –
or
Relative molecular mass
Amount of substance n mole mol
Number of particles N – –
(atoms, ions, molecules,
etc.)
Avogadro’s number NA 6.022  1023
particles/mole
Mass m gram g
Molar mass M grams/mole g.mol–1

Text Questions: Chapter Review p134 – 136

9
Determination of percentage composition (by mass) of a compound
Ref: Ch5 pp129 - 133

The percentage composition, by mass, of a compound indicates what proportion of the total mass of the compound
is accounted for by the mass of each element. The percentage composition can be determined:

(i) using experimental results involving masses; or,

(ii) from the chemical formula.

(i) Using experimental results involving masses

melement 
% Element   100 %
mcompound 

Questions

1. 3.425 g of a sample of an oxide of lead was completely reduced to form 3.105 g of lead. What is the percentage
composition of the oxide?

Mass lead oxide = ________________________ g

Mass lead = ________________________ g

Therefore, mass oxygen = ________________________ g

mPb  mO 
%Pb    100 % %O    100 %
mlead oxide  mlead oxide 
3.105 g 0.320 g
  100 %   100 %
3.425 g 3.425 g
 90.66 %  9.34 %

Calculating the mass of oxygen and then the % oxygen in a two step process can be avoided in this case as there
are only two elements in the compound.

i.e. %(O) = 100 % – %(Pb) = 100 % – 90.66 % Therefore % oxygen = 9.34%

However, where there are more than two elements you must find the percentage of each element separately
(until there is just one element to be determined).

2. When 5.00 g of a substance was analysed, it was found to contain 0.965 g of sodium, 1.35 g of sulfur and some
oxygen. What is the percentage composition of the compound?

10
(ii) From the chemical formula

mass of element in 1 mole of compound

% Element   100 %
M compound 

Questions

3. Calculate the percentage composition of NiSO4.

The chemical formula indicates the ratio of the elements: so one mole of nickel sulfate would contain:
1 mol Ni, 1 mol S and 4 mol O.

The molar mass of the compound can be calculated using the relative atomic masses of the elements in the
compound.

Hence, M(NiSO4) = _______________________________________________ g.mol–1

M Ni
%Ni   100 % 
M NiSO 4 
OR
M S
%S 
%(O) = 100 – %(Ni) – %(S)
 100 % 
M NiSO 4  = 100 – ______ – ______
= ______ %
4  M O 
%O    100 % 
M NiSO 4 

Text Questions: TY 5.4.1, KQ 1, 2 p133

11
Determination of empirical formula
Ref: Ch 5

A compound is a pure substance that consists of two or more types of elements chemically combined in a whole
number ratio of atoms. For example, NH3, NaCl and CaSO4.

The empirical formula is the formula that gives the simplest whole number ratio of atoms (or ions for ionic species)
in a pure substance.

The molecular formula gives the actual number of atoms present in a molecule. (Note – this expression is used
exclusively for covalent molecular species)

Sometimes the molecular formula and the empirical formula are the same.

Examples

Compound Molecular Formula Empirical Notes

Formula
(if applicable)
Benzene C6H6 CH
Sodium – NaCl
chloride
Sodium – Na2O2 Is made up of sodium ions (Na+) and peroxide ions (O22-) in
peroxide the ratio of 2 to 1
Sulfur S8 S

 For metallic elements, the empirical formula is the same as the symbol of the element e.g. Cu
 For ionic substances, the empirical formula is the same as the ionic formula e.g. BaCO3
 For covalent substances the molecular formula may be the same as the empirical formula or a simple whole
number ratio of the empirical formula

Questions

Empirical
Formula Name Type of substance
formula
KCl
C3H8
Cu
NO3
MgSO4
Fe2O3
C6H6
P4
HF
O2

When determining the empirical formula of a substance you need to always find the simplest ratio of number of
moles of each atom in the substance.

12
When the mass of each element is known, then the number of moles of each element can be calculated, and hence,
the ratio of the number of moles and the empirical formula.

Questions

1. Find the empirical formula of the compound formed when 0.180 g of carbon combines completely with 0.480 g
of oxygen.

Element C O
Mass (g) 0.180 0.480
m/M 0.180 / 12.0 0.480 / 16.0
Moles (mol) 0.0150 0.0300
Divide by smallest 0.0150 / 0.0150 0.0300 / 0.0150
Simplest mole ratio 1 2
Empirical formula CO2

This means that for every one mole of carbon there are two moles of oxygen. Hence, the empirical formula of
the compound is CO2.

2. It was found experimentally that 2.93 g of aluminium chloride can be made from 0.60 g of aluminium. What is
the empirical formula of aluminium chloride?

Aluminium chloride is made up of only two elements: aluminium and chlorine.

Element Al Cl

Mass (g)

m/M

Moles (mol)

Divide by smallest

Simplest mole ratio

Empirical formula

3. A 0.378 g sample of iron reacts with bromine to produce 2.000 g of a bromide of iron. What is the empirical
formula of this compound?

13
For compounds, the mole ratio selected should be that nearest to a whole number ratio. If the simplest mole ratio is
not close to a whole number ratio, the values may need to be scaled up.
E.g.
Element Al S
Mole ratio 0.817 1.213
Divide by smallest 0.817 / 0.817 1.213 / 0.817
Simplest mole ratio 1 1.5
Simplest whole number ratio 12=2 1.5  2 = 3
Empirical formula Al2S3

4. Determine the empirical formula of the hydrocarbon formed from 8.40 g of carbon and 1.60 g of hydrogen.
Element C H
Not near enough to a whole
Mass (g) 8.40 1.60
number mole ratio.
m/M
Maybe: 4  (1.000 : 2.286)
Moles (mol) = 4.00 : 9.14

Divide by smallest = 1.000 = 2.286 Still not close enough…

Actually: 7  (1.000 : 2.286)

Simplest whole number = 7 : 16
mole ratio
Empirical formula

Use of % mass composition to find empirical formula.

If the amount of each element in a sample of a compound is given as a percentage composition by mass, it is
possible to calculate the empirical formula of the compound. The percentage composition of each element in the
compound can be treated as the mass of each element in a 100 g sample of the compound.
Question
5. A sample of ammonia was found to consist of 82.35 % nitrogen and 17.65 % hydrogen. Find the empirical
formula of ammonia.
Element N H
Mass in exactly 100g 82.35 17.65
m/M
Moles (mol)

Divide by smallest

Simplest mole ratio

Empirical formula

Questions : TY 5.4.2, KQ 3 p133

14
Determination of molecular formula from empirical formula and Mr
Ref: Ch 5

The molecular formula can be found from the empirical formula if the relative molecular mass (or molar mass) of the
compound is known.

Questions of this type involve finding the “relative empirical formula mass”, EFr.
This is found by adding together the relative atomic masses of the atoms in the empirical formula.

Questions

1. Determine the molecular formula of benzene which has an empirical formula, CH. The relative molecular mass
(Mr) of benzene is 78.0.

The relative empirical formula mass, EFr, of benzene can be calculated thus:

EFr(CH) = 12.0 + 1.0 = ______________________

The simple whole number multiple relating the empirical and molecular formulae can be found by dividing the
relative molecular mass by the relative empirical formula mass.

Mr
Therefore: 
EFr

So the molecular formula is 6  (CH) = _________________

2. An organic compound has the empirical formula C2H4O. If its relative molecular mass is 88.0,
deduce its molecular formula.

Relative empirical formula mass (EFr) = _________________________

Mr
Therefore: 
EFr

Therefore the molecular formula is

Text Questions: TY 5.4.3, KQ 4,5 p133

Chapter 5 review – Try a range of these questions

15