Avogadro's constant: Difference between revisions

From Citizendium
Jump to navigation Jump to search
imported>Paul Wormer
(Avogadro's constant moved to Avogadro's number over redirect: Article starts by defining number not constant)
 
imported>Paul Wormer
No edit summary
Line 1: Line 1:
#REDIRECT [[Avogadro's number]]
The SI definition of '''Avogadro's constant''' (designated N<sub>A</sub>) is: the number of entities (such as atoms, ions, or molecules) per mole. (This definition requires a definition of mole that does not rely on N<sub>A</sub>, but one that is in terms of 12C atoms). In this definition NA has dimension mol−1. The numeric value of Avogadro's constant is NA = 6.022 141 79 x 1023 mol−1.
 
Because the mole and Avogadro's number are defined in terms of the atomic mass constant (one twelfth of the mass of a 12C atom), Avogadro's constant and number have by definition the same numerical value. In practice the two terms are used interchangeably.

Revision as of 11:05, 24 June 2009

The SI definition of Avogadro's constant (designated NA) is: the number of entities (such as atoms, ions, or molecules) per mole. (This definition requires a definition of mole that does not rely on NA, but one that is in terms of 12C atoms). In this definition NA has dimension mol−1. The numeric value of Avogadro's constant is NA = 6.022 141 79 x 1023 mol−1.

Because the mole and Avogadro's number are defined in terms of the atomic mass constant (one twelfth of the mass of a 12C atom), Avogadro's constant and number have by definition the same numerical value. In practice the two terms are used interchangeably.