The Size of a Mole

Abstract

A technique for demonstrating the magnitude of Avogadro's number using an old Apple IIe computer is described. The technique also provides students the opportunity to review dimensional analysis.

Revisión de investigaciones sobre la enseñanza-aprendizaje de los conceptos cantidad de sustancia y mol

“…Así, Yalçinalp y otros (1995) estudiaron la influencia de un diseño de enseñanza asistida por ordenador sobre un centenar de estudiantes de educación secundaria y encontraron mejoras significativas en el aprendizaje del concepto de mol y las fórmulas químicas, además de mejorar las actitudes hacia la química. Toloudis (1996) ha elaborado un sencillo programa en BASIC para mostrar la enorme magnitud del número de Avogadro midiendo el tiempo necesario para contar el número de entidades contenidas en un mol. Otros autores, Dori y Hameiri (1998), plantean la aplicación del análisis multidimensional a la resolución de problemas cuantitativos de química (cálculo de la masa o el número de átomos contenidos en cierta cantidad de sustancia, etc.…”

Mole Pi: Using New Technology To Teach the Magnitude of a Mole

“…One method with which I have found some additional success is through the use of a computer program that counts by ones as fast as it can. , I have used an old computer that has been repurposed and can run the program from its OS command line. When I first began using this method, I created my own program in Quick Basic, compiled it into an executable file (avogadro.exe), and saved it on a 3.5 in. diskette.…”

“…5,6 I have used an old computer that has been repurposed and can run the program from its OS command line. When I first began using this method, 6 I created my own program in Quick Basic, compiled it into an executable file (avogadro.exe), and saved it on a 3.5 in. diskette.…”

For Mole Problems, Call Avogadro: 602-1023

“…Most introductory chemistry textbooks designed for general education students approach Avogadro's number as the number of species in a mole (1,2), as the number of species in a specific number of grams of the chemical entity (3), or from the need to deal physically with lots of atoms because the atoms are so small (4-6). In addition, articles published in this Journal describe several other approaches to introducing Avogadro's number to general chemistry students (7)(8)(9)(10)(11)(12)(13)(14)(15)(16)(17).…”