Question #bd009

1 Answer
Jorge B.
Jul 29, 2015

The number #6.023*10^23#, or Number of Avogadro (#N_A#) is the conversion factor between atomic mass units and grams.

Explanation:

1 mole is simply a collection of #6.023*10^23# atoms, like a dozen is a collection of 12, or a pair is a collection of 2.
This number was chosen to find the equivalence between the atomic mass in atomic mass units (which is approximately equal to N, the number of nucleons) and grams, the CGS unit of mass, and also the most common mass unit used in chemistry.

The use of the mole of atoms as standardized amount of atoms in chemistry meant that chemistry students only needed to memorize the N of any chemical species, and they would immediately know both the atomic mass (N amu) and the mass of the amount of atoms used in chemistry (N g).

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