MadSci Network: Chemistry |
How did Avagadro determine the number of molecules in a mole?
Also, what are some other methods for determining Avagadro's number?
Avogadro's Law was ignored until 1858, when Stanislao Cannizaro proved it experimentally by using it to determine accurate atomic weights.
Avogadro's number can be determined experimentally by observing the actual mass (usually via the momentum) of a "single" atom or molecule, then comparing that to the mass of one gram-molecular-weight (or mole of the same substance.
Methods of determining Avogadro's number are briefly listed here and here.
Dan Berger | |
Bluffton College | |
http://cs.bluffton.edu/~berger |
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