Avogadro’s number is a constant that is equal to 6.022 x 1023. This number never changes and it is equivalent to one mole.  The mole is used to measure elements because there is no real one way to measure every element. Each element on the periodic table is given a molar mass that is used in converting moles to other formula units. The number is named after Amedeo Avogadro who, in 1811, decide to give a constant value to the volume of gas, no matter what kind of gas. Johann Loschmidt found the value that Avogadro was referring to was equal to 6.022 x 1023. This number was found by estimating the average diameter of air molecules by calculating the number of particles in a given volume of gas. However, Avogadro’s number was found mathematically but it was rather found experimentally. The experiment that was used to find Avogadro’s number uses electrochemistry. In 1909 Jean Perrin proposed that Avogadro had a good idea and that the number that Loschmidt came up with, 6.022 x 1023, should be named after Avogadro, hence  Avogadro’s number.

A mole is defined as the gram formula mass or the atomic mass of an element in grams. Each element is given a formula mass. You use the formula mass to find the molar mass by finding how many of each element there is in a compound then adding the formula mass of each of those. The molar mass is used to make conversions between grams and moles of one substance to grams/ moles of another compound. Moles are always the same value but each compound does not have the same molar mass because it depends what elements are in the compound.

 Mole are very useful when dealing with elements because there is not always a defined unit. With moles you can compare two compounds using their molar mass.