Mole Day Project

The first National Mole Day was held in 1991 on October 23. The mole is defined as the
number of atoms of carbon-12 that are found in a 12 gram sample. So, there are 6.02 x
1023 atoms of carbon in 12 grams of carbon. This is a phenomenally large number.
When written out it is 602, 000, 000, 000, 000, 000, 000, 000. YOWZA! Mole Day is
designed to help people understand more about the chemical mole (not to be confused
with the animal mole.) Of course, guess what the National Mole Day Foundation chose
as its mascot? You guessed it see the cute chemist mole above?
In preparation of a Mole Day celebration at MHS, you will complete two of the following projects. Each project
includes some writing on a 3x5 inch index card. Your project is due on February 6. Be sure to write your
name & period on your project as well as the index card.
Part 1: Choose 1 from this section:
Make a Fabric Mole Make a cute, fabric mole mascot! Use the pattern provided. Be creative include
at least 3 clues about the true meaning of a chemical mole. Using a permanent marker, write your name
and period on your mole. Make it punny!!
Index card includes your name, class period, your mole mascots name, and your 3 clues.
Make Homemade Mole Day Treats Make a treat to be shared with the class that has some connection
to Mole Day. MOLEasses cookies, guacaMOLE dip, etc. of course, you will be much more creative!
Bring the treat & any necessary serving items to class by 7:30 am on the due date.
Index card includes your name, class period, a written recipe for your treat with the measurements given in
both English & metric units and an explanation of your treats connection to Mole Day.
Make a Al-mole-ium sculpture: Make a Mole Day or chemistry related sculpture out of aluminum foil and
bring it in to be massed. Convert the mass to moles of aluminum. Needs to be at least 20cm x 8 cm.
Index card includes your name, class period, conversion from mass to moles of Aluminum and an
explanation of your sculptures connection to Mole Day or chemistry.
Make a mole game: Create a Mole Day or chemistry related game. The game must be able to be played
in the chemistry classroom. All pieces and necessary equipment to play must be provided. Clear simple
directions need to be typed and included with the game. Bring game the day before mole day to set it up
and explain how it works so it can be played on Mole Day.
Index card includes your name, class period and an explanation of your sculptures connection to Mole Day
or chemistry.
Part 2: Choose 1 from this section:
Mole Brochure: Informational pamphlet (double sided tri-fold)
Mole Video Blog: Video of yourself informing the public about moles (About 2 mins)
Mole song/poem: Write your own mole song or poem (Songs need to be recorded and submitted)
All part 2 projects need to answer the following questions:
Who discovered the mole?
What is a mole?
What is the numeric value of a mole?
How do you find the weight of a mole?
When was it discovered?
How does a chemist use a mole?
What is the purpose of a mole?
Have another idea? Ask your teacher and get it approved by January 24th.
Before starting your project, please read the following background information on Amadeo Avogadro!

Amadeo Avogadro
(June 9, 1776 July 9, 1856)
I, Lorenzo Romano Amadeo Carlo Avogadro, conte di Quaregan e di Cerreto, was born on
June 9, 1776 in Turin, Italy. My parents were Count Filippo Avogadro and Anna Maria Vercellone.
Following in my fathers footsteps, I began my career as a lawyer in 1796 and practiced for three
years. I married Felicita Mazze and we had six children.
I became interested in math and science and began taking private lessons. The Academy of
Turin hired me as a demonstrator in 1806. This led to becoming a professor at the College of Vercelli
in 1809, first in natural philosophy and later in mathematical physics.
I combined physics and chemistry to experimentally test my ideas about mathematics. During
my lifetime, I was considered to be a poor experimenter but I was more concerned about ideas than
data. Since I was not a prominent chemist, I submitted my work to be published in lesser known
journals. It created little interest in the scientific community.
My greatest accomplishment was my hypothesis that states; at a fixed temperature and
pressure, equal volumes of gases contain the same number of molecules. This later was accepted
as valid by the greater scientific community by becoming Avogadros Law. My hypothesis was based
on the work of Joseph Gay-Lussac. He found that gases expand when their temperature increases.
Also, he distinguished between atoms and molecules. Both of these ideas were the foundation of my
ideas. I thought Gay-Lussacs findings were valid even though John Dalton (founder of atomic
theory) did not accept his ideas.
I wrote about an elemenetary molecule and two other types of molecules which were made of
two or more atoms. I was one of the first to think in terms of atoms and molecules even though I
didnt use the term atom. These ideas were published in 1811 in the Journal de physique.
At my death, I did not know how many particles were in a mole although I knew it was a fixed
amount. After my death, many scientists tried to figure out the exact number. Robert Brown was the
first to give an approximate value in 1827.
My colleague, Stanislao Cannizzarro, used my hypothesis to set up relative atomic weights
based on 1/16 the atomic weight of oxygen. (Today we use weights based on 1/12 the atomic weight
of carbon.) In 1860, he made this presentation at the Karlsruhe Conference. This lead to
progressively more accurate approximations as more scientists became interested in my original
ideas. Starting in 1958, textbooks stated that Avogadros number was 6.02 x 10 23. Today, a few more
decimal places have been added to the number. Even though I never knew the actual number,
scientists named it after me.
Avogadros number is so large that many analogies have been used to attempt to give the
public a better idea of the enormity of the number of particles in one mole. For example, one mole of;
1) 12 oz soda cans would cover the surface of the earth to a depth of over 200 miles (Chris
Johnson)
2) popcorn kernels (unpopped) spread across the United States of America, the country
would be covered in popcorn to a depth of 9 miles. (Chris Johnson)
My tombstone shall include this inscription One great number made a man. Even though I
did not calculate 6.02 x 1023, it was based on my original idea. One number made me, a humble
physics professor, a place in scientific history.