Why is Amount of Mole in Grams Equal to Atomic Mass?

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Discussion Overview

The discussion centers on the relationship between the amount of a mole in grams of an element and its atomic mass. Participants explore the reasoning behind this equivalence, including the role of atomic mass units and Avogadro's number, as well as the implications of using carbon-12 as a reference standard.

Discussion Character

  • Technical explanation
  • Mathematical reasoning
  • Exploratory

Main Points Raised

  • One participant questions whether the equivalence of grams per mole to atomic mass is simply due to the definition involving Avogadro's number and atomic mass units.
  • Another participant asserts that the atomic unit was selected to ensure this relationship holds, referencing the formula involving Avogadro's number and atomic mass units.
  • Several numerical examples are provided to illustrate the concept, including calculations showing that 1 atomic mass unit equals approximately 1.6605655 x 10-24 grams and how this relates to moles of hydrogen and zirconium.
  • One participant repeats a numerical example with slight variations, suggesting that the calculations can be applied to different elements while maintaining the same principles.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants do not reach a consensus on the underlying reasoning for the equivalence of grams per mole and atomic mass, with some focusing on definitions and others providing numerical examples without resolving the initial question.

Contextual Notes

The discussion includes assumptions about the definitions of atomic mass units and the use of carbon-12 as a standard, but these assumptions are not explicitly agreed upon or clarified by all participants.

batballbat
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Why is the amount of mole in gms. of an element the same as the its atomic mass. Is it just because $N_a X 1 u = 1$. Am i missing some simple reasoning behind this? Or was the carbon 12 taken exactly to make this valid?
 
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Simple answer - atomic unit was selected to make it happen.

batballbat said:
N_a X 1 u = 1

Or was the carbon 12 taken exactly to make this valid?

In a way you listed the same reason twice. Note what happens when you list units:

[tex]N_a[\frac{atom}{mole}] \times u[\frac{g}{atom}] = 1[\frac{g}{mole}][/tex]
 
You can also take a numerical example :

1 atomic mass unit = 1.6605655 x 10-24 grams
Once it is determined that 1 gram Hydrogen contains :
1 g. H / 1.6605655 x 10-24 g = 6.02 x 1023
1 mole H = Avogadro's number. Then it follows for 1 mole of any other element.
Take 40 grams of Zr :
40 g. Zr/ 40 * 1.660565 x 10-24 g. =
40 g. Zr / 6.642 x 10-23 g = 6.02 x 10 23
 
morrobay said:
You can also take a numerical example :

1 atomic mass unit = 1.6605655 x 10-24 grams
Once it is determined that 1 gram Hydrogen contains :
1 g. H / 1.6605655 x 10-24 g = 6.02 x 1023
1 mole H = Avogadro's number. Then it follows for 1 mole of any other element.
Take 40 grams of Zr :
40 g. Zr/ 40 * 1.660565 x 10-24 g. =
40 g. Zr / 6.642 x 10-23 g = 6.02 x 10 23

This should be 91 grams Zr :
so : 91 grams Zr / 91 * 1.66 x 10 ^ -24 g
= 91 g Zr / 15.1 x 10^-23 g = 6.02 x 10^23
 
Last edited:

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