Avogadro's number \( (6.022 \times 10^{23} \text{ atoms/mol}) \) is a cornerstone of chemistry. It links the microscopic world of atoms with the macroscopic quantities we observe in the laboratory.
Named after Amedeo Avogadro, this number is the quantity of atoms, molecules, or particles in a mole of substance, making it fundamental for molecular counting in chemical reactions and compositions.
When calculating the number of atoms in a given amount of a substance, we first determine the number of moles. For example, if we have \( 0.0386 \; \text{mol} \) of lead, we multiply it by Avogadro's number to derive the total number of atoms:
- \( \text{Number of atoms} = 0.0386 \; \text{mol} \times 6.022 \times 10^{23} \; \text{atoms/mol} \)
Here, Avogadro's number transforms the conventional measurement of molar mass into a detailed quantification of individual atoms, enhancing our understanding of atomic-scale processes.