Mole day

[haresfur]

Got a message from a geologist friend that Thursday is mole day:

What is Mole Day?

Celebrated annually on October 23 from 6:02 a.m. to 6:02 p.m., Mole Day commemorates Avogadro's Number (6.02 x 10^23), which is a basic measuring unit in chemistry. Mole Day was created as a way to foster interest in chemistry. Schools throughout the United States and around the world celebrate Mole Day with various activities related to chemistry and/or moles.

For a given molecule, one mole is a mass (in grams) whose number is equal to the atomic mass of the molecule. For example, the water molecule has an atomic mass of 18, therefore one mole of water weighs 18 grams. An atom of neon has an atomic mass of 20, therefore one mole of neon weighs 20 grams. In general, one mole of any substance contains Avogadro's Number of molecules or atoms of that substance. This relationship was first discovered by Amadeo Avogadro (1776-1858) and he received credit for this after his death.

Here's how I replied:

Ok, to celebrate I figure that:

1 mole of ethanol is 46.06844 g and the density is 0.789 g/cm³.

So 1 mole of ethanol is 58.39 cm³

My single malt scotch is about 80 proof or 40% alcohol by volume.

So I should toast mole day with 146 cm³ of Scotland's finest.

Now this neglects the partial molar volume of ethanol in water, which is negative so we had better round up to 150 ml.

That makes for a 5.07 oz drink or about a double and a half.

Oh, and I'd better hurry home from work to toast Mole Day on time.

... the things I do for science...

[Peter the eater]

Wow.

I was expecting an alcoholic version of a guacamole relative, or something, but I'd much rather celebrate Mole day with a triple shot of single malt.

[Special K]

Dang it! What a time to be reminded of this - just as school lets out for the day! Oh, well, Doc (the high school chemistry teacher) and I (his volunteer assistant) will just have to celebrate at home.

Salute!