UNDERSTANDING THE MOLE
In chemistry, the
fundamental unit of matter is the mole. You must understand and be able
to use the mole concept. In this activity, you will practice determining
the number of moles, number of grams, number of atoms, and number of molecules
of different substances. Make sure that
you show your work! (There is room to
the right side of each table for you to show your work.)
STATION #1: AVERAGE
MASS OF PLASTIC BAGS
Determine and record the mass of three different plastic bags with labels.
Calculate the average mass of one plastic bag.
|
Bag #1 |
_______________ |
grams |
|
Bag #2 |
_______________ |
grams |
|
Bag #3 |
_______________ |
grams |
|
Average |
_______________ |
grams |
STATION #2: COPPER
Determine and record the mass of the plastic bag with the copper. What is
the mass of the copper in the bag?
~ Calculate the number of moles of copper in the bag.
~ Calculate the number of atoms of copper in the bag.
|
Mass of bag with copper |
_______________ |
grams |
|
Mass of copper |
_______________ |
grams |
|
Moles of copper |
_______________ |
moles |
|
Atoms of copper |
_______________ |
atoms |
STATION
#3: BAKING SODA (SODIUM BICARBONATE –
NaHCO3)
Determine
and record the mass of the plastic bag with baking soda. What is the mass of the baking soda in the
bag?
~
Calculate the number of moles of baking soda in the bag.
~
Calculate the number of molecules of baking soda in the bag.
|
Mass of bag with baking
soda |
_______________ |
grams |
|
Mass of baking soda |
_______________ |
grams |
|
Moles of baking soda |
_______________ |
moles |
|
Molecules of baking soda |
_______________ |
molecules |
STATION
#4: WATER
Fill a clean,
unused paper cup about two-thirds full of water. Determine and record the mass of the paper
cup and water. Take a drink of the
water. Determine and record the mass of
the cup and the water left in it. Throw
the used cup in the trash.
~ How many
moles of water did you drink?
~ How many
molecules of water did you drink?
|
Mass of cup & water before drinking |
_______________ |
grams |
|
Mass of cup & water after drinking |
_______________ |
grams |
|
Mass of water |
_______________ |
grams |
|
Moles of water |
_______________ |
moles |
|
Molecules of water |
_______________ |
molecules |
STATION
#5: CALCIUM SULFATE (CaSO4)
Determine
and record the mass of the plastic bag with calcium sulfate.
~ How many
moles of calcium sulfate are in the bag?
~ How many
moles of oxygen are contained in the calcium sulfate in the bag? *
|
Mass of bag and calcium
sulfate |
_______________ |
grams |
|
Mass of calcium sulfate |
_______________ |
grams |
|
Moles of calcium sulfate |
_______________ |
moles |
|
Moles of oxygen * |
_______________ |
moles |
STATION
#6: TABLE SALT (SODIUM CHLORIDE – NaCl)
Record the
number of moles of sodium chloride given on the label of the plastic bag with
the salt.
Determine and
record the mass of the plastic bag with salt in it.
~ How many
moles of salt are in the bag?
~ What is
your percent error? (Assume that the
number given on the bag is the “accepted value”.)
|
Accepted # of moles of NaCl in bag |
_______________ |
moles |
|
Mass of bag and salt |
_______________ |
grams |
|
Mass of salt |
_______________ |
grams |
|
Moles of salt |
_______________ |
moles |
|
Percent error |
_______________ |
% |
STATION
#7: IRON
Record the
number of atoms of iron given on the label of the plastic bag with the iron.
Determine
and record the mass of the plastic bag with iron in it.
~ How many
moles of iron are in the bag?
~ How many
atoms of iron are in the bag?
~ What is
your percent error? (Assume that the
number given on the bag is the “accepted value”.)
|
Accepted # of atoms of Fe
in bag |
_______________ |
atoms |
|
Mass of bag and iron |
_______________ |
grams |
|
Mass of iron |
_______________ |
grams |
|
Moles of iron |
_______________ |
moles |
|
Atoms of iron |
_______________ |
atoms |
|
Percent error |
_______________ |
% |