MOLE AND MOLAR QUANTITIES

THE MOLE
A mole is a number of particles of a substance which may be atoms, ions, molecules or electrons.
This number of particles is approximately 6.02 x 10 in magnitude and is known as Avogadro’s
23

number of particles.

The mole is defined as the amount of a substance which contains as many elementary units as
there are atoms in 12g of Carbon-12.

RELATIVE ATOMIC MASS

The relative atomic mass of an element is the number of time the average mass of one atom of that
element is heavier than one twelfth the mass of one atom of Carbon-12. It indicates the mass of an
atom of an element. For e.g, the relative atomic mass of hydrogen, oxygen, carbon, sodium and
calcium are 1, 16, 12, 23, and 40 respectively.

The atomic mass of an element contains the same number of atoms which is 6.02 x 10 atoms; 1 23

mole of hydrogen having atomic mass of 2.0g contains 6.02 x 10 atoms. 23

RELATIVE MOLECULAR MASS

The relative molecular mass of an element or compound is the number of times the average mass
of one molecule of it is heavier than one-twelfth the mass of one atom of Carbon-12
It is the sum of the relative atomic masses of all atoms in one molecule of that substance. It is also
called the formula mass. The formula mass refers not only to the relative mass of a molecule but
also that of an ion or radical.

CALCULATION
Calculate the relative molecular mass of:
1. Magnesium chloride
2. Sodium hydroxide
3. Calcium trioxocarbonate
[Mg=24, Cl=35.5, Na=23, O=16, H=1, Ca=40,C=12]

Solution:
1. MgCl = 24 + 35.5x2 = 24 + 71 = 95gmol
2
-1

2. NaOH = 23 + 16 + 1 = 40gmol -1

3. CaCO = 40 + 12 +16x3 = 100gmol

3
-1

EVALUATION
1. Calculate the mass of one mole of (NH4)2CO3 [ H=1, N=14, C=12, O=16]

MOLAR VOLUME OF GASES

The volume occupied by 1 mole of a gas at standard conditions of temperature and pressure (s.t.p)
is 22.4 dm . Thus 1 mole of oxygen gas of molar mass 32.0gmol occupies a volume of 22.4dm at
3 -1 3

s.t.p and 1 mole of helium gas of molar mass 4.0gmol occupies a volume of 22.4 dm at s.t.p.
-1 3

Note: When the conditions of temperature and pressure are altered, the molar volume will also
change. Also, standard temperature = 273K and standard pressure = 760mmHg.
RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN QUANTITIES
Molar mass = mass (g) i.e. M(gmol ) = m
-1

Amount (moles) n

Note: Amount = Number of moles

Molar volume of gas = volume ( cm or dm ) i.e. Vm (dm mol ) = v

3 3 3 -1

Amount (mole) n
Amount = Reacting mass (g)
Molar mass (gmol ) -1

Also, Amount of substance = Number of particles

Avogadro’s constant
But, Avogadro’s constant = 6.02 x 10 23

Combining the two expressions:

Reacting mass = Number of particles
Molar mass 6.02 x 10 23

CALCULATIONS
1. What is the mass of 2.7 mole of aluminium (Al=27)?
Solution:
Amount = Reacting mass
Molar mass
Reacting mass = Amount x Molar mass
= 2.7mole x 27 gmol = 72.9g. -1

2. What is the number of oxygen atoms in 32g of the gas? (O=16, N = 6.02 x 10 ) A
23

Solution:
Reacting mass = Number of atoms
Molar mass 6.02 x 10 23

Number of atoms = Reacting mass x 6.02 x 10 23

Molar mass
Molar mass of O = 16x2 =32gmol
2
-1

Number of atoms = 32g x 6.02 x 10 23

32gmol -1

= 6.02 x 10 23

The number of oxygen atoms is 6.02 x 10 23

STOICHIOMETRY OF REACTION
The calculation of the amounts (generally measured in moles or grams) of reactants and products
involved in a chemical reaction is known as stoichiometry of reaction. In other words, the mole
ratio in which reactants combine and products are formed gives the stoichiometry of the reactions.

From the stoichiometry of a given balanced chemical equation, the mass or volume of the reactant
needed for the reaction or products formed can be calculated.
CALCULATION OF MASSES OF REACTANTS AND PRODUCTS
1. Calculate the mass of solid product obtained when 16.8g of NaHCO was heated strongly until 3

there was no further change.

Solution:
The equation for the reaction is:
2NaHCO → Na CO + H O CO
3(s) 2 3(s) 2 (g) 2(g)

Molar mass of NaHCO = 23 + 12 + 16x3 = 84gmol 3

-1

Molar mass of Na CO = 23x2 +12+16x3 = 106gmol

2 3
-1

From the equation:

2 moles NaHCO produces 1 mole Na CO 3 2 3

2x84g NaHCO produces 106g Na CO 3 2 3

16.8g NaHCO will produce Xg Na CO 3 2 3

Xg Na CO = 106g x 16.8g =10.6g

2 3

2x84g
Mass of solid product obtained = 10.6g

2. Determine the mass of CO produced by burning 104g of ethyne [C H ] 2 2 2

2C H + 5O2 → 4CO + 2H O
2 2 2(g) 2 (g)

Molar mass of C H = 12 x 2 + 1 x 2 = 26 gmol 2 2

-1

Molar mass of CO2 = 12+ 16x2 = 44 gmol -1

From the equation

2 moles of C H produced 4 moles of CO2
2 2

2 x 26g C H produced 4 x 44g CO2

2 2

104g C H will produce Xg CO2

2 2

Xg CO2 = (4 x 44g) x104 = 352g

2 x 26
3. 2Na(s) +2H2O(l) → 2NaOH(aq) + H2(g)
From the equation above, calculate the mass of sodium hydroxide produce by 2.3g of sodium
From the equation:
2 moles of Na produced 2 moles of NaOH
2 (23g) of Na produced 2 (23 + 16 + 1)g of NaOH
46g Na produced 80g NaOH
2.3g Na produced Xg NaOH
Xg of NaOH = 2.3 x 80 = 4g
46
4. Baking soda and hydrochloric acid react according to the following equation:
NaHCO3(aq) + HCI(aq)  NaCl(aq) + CO2(g) + H2O(l)
Calculate the mass of baking soda that would produce 10g of carbon (IV) oxide. [H = 1.00,
C = 12.0, 0 = 16.0, Na = 23.0]
NaHCO3 + HCI --> NaCI + CO2 + H2O
From the equation:
1 mole of NaHCO3 produced 1 mole of CO2
84g NaHCO3 produced 44g CO2
 Xg will produce 10g CO2
Xg = 84×10 = 19.09g
44
= 19.1g

MOLES- MASS CALCULATION

1. Calculate the number of moles of CaCl that can be obtained from 25g of limestone [CaCO ] in
2 3

the presence of excess acid.

Solution:
The equation for the reaction is:
CaCO + 2HCl → CaCl + H 0 + CO
3(s) 2(s) 2 (l) 2(g)

Number of moles = Reacting mass

Molar mass
Molar mass of CaCO = 40 + 12 + 16x3 = 100gmol
3
-1

Number of moles of CaCO = 25g = 0.25 mole

3

100gmol -1

From the equation of reaction,

1 mole CaCO yields 1 mole CaCl
3 2

Therefore, 0.25 mole CaCO yielded 0.25 mole CaCl

3 2.

2. Zinc reacts with copper (II) tetraoxosulphate (VI) according to the following equation:
Zn(s) + CuSO4(aq)  ZnSO4(aq) + Cu(s)
a. State the type of reaction involved.
b. Determine the amount of zinc that would react completely with 48.0g of copper (II)
tetraoxosulphate (VI) [CuSO4 = 160; Zn=65]
Solution
It is a displacement of redox reaction.
b. From the equation:
1 mole of CuSO4 reacted with 1 mole of Zn
160g (1 mole ) of CuSO4 required 1 mole of Zn.
:. 48.0g of CuSO4 will require (1x48.0)/160 mol.
= 0.300 mole of Zn

CALCULATION OF VOLUME OF REACTING GASES

1. Find the volume of oxygen produced by 1 mole of KClO at s.t.p in the following reaction:
3

2KClO → 2KCl + 30
3(s) (s) 2(g)

Solution
From the equation
2 moles of KClO3 produced 3 moles of O2
Note 1 mole of a gas occupies 22.4dm3
Therefore
2 moles of KClO3 produced 3(22.4)dm3 O2
1 mole of KClO3 will produce Xdm3 O2
 Xdm3 = 3x22.4 x1 = 33.6dm3
2
2. 16.8 g of sodium hydrogen trioxocarbonate (IV) is completely decomposed by heat. Calculate
the volume of carbon(IV) oxide given off at s.t.p
[Na 23, C = 12, O = 16, H = 1, Molar volume of a gas at s.t.p = 22.4 dm3]
2NaHCO3(aq)  Na2CO3(aq) + CO2(g) + H2O(l)
Solution
From the equation
2 mole of NaHCO3 produced 1 mole of CO2(g)
2 mole of NaHCO3 = 2(23 + 1 + 12 + 16x3) = 168g
1 mole of CO2 occupies a volume of 22.4dm3
84g = 22.4 dm3
16.8g = Xdm3
X = 22.4 x 16.8 = 2.24dm3
168

ASSIGNMENT
1. What mass of Pb(NO ) would be required to 9g of PbCl on the addition of excess NaCl
3 2 2

solution? [Pb=207, Na=23, O=16, N=14] a. 10.7g b. 1.2g c. 6.4g d. 5.2g

2. Ethane [C2H6] burns completely in oxygen. What amount in moles of CO2 will be produced
when 6.0g of ethane are completely burnt in oxygen?
2C2H 6 + 7O 2 → 4CO 2 + 6H 2O
3. Consider the reaction represented by the following equation:-
2NaCl + H2SO4(s) → Na2SO4(s) + 2HCl(g)
Calculate the volume of HCl gas that can be obtained at s.t.p. from 5.85 g of sodium.
chloride. [ Na = 23.0, Cl = 35.5, Molar volume of gas at s.t.p. = 22.4 dm3]
4. Calculate the volume of nitrogen that will be produced at s.t.p from the decomposition of
9.60g ammonium dioxonitrate (III), NH4NO2.
NH4NO2(aq) → N2(g) + 2H2O(l)