Physical Chemistry #1: Relative Mass, the Mole and Avogadro's Constant (Slides & Student Led Tasks)

This lesson goes over the concepts of relative mass, the mole and Avogadro’s constant. This is lesson one in our physical chemistry series from unit 1: Atoms, Molecules and Stoichiometry (from the Cambridge International AS Chemistry Curriculum).

LESSON OBJECTIVE: To understand and calculate masses of atoms and molecules based on the 12C scale, to investigate the concept of the mole and to be able to analyse mass spectra.

LEARNING OUTCOMES (taken from the Cambridge International AS and A Level Chemistry (9701) 2019-2021 curriculum):
1.1 Relative masses of atoms and molecules
a) define and use the terms relative atomic, isotopic, molecular and formula masses, based on the 12C scale

1.2 The mole and the Avogadro constant
a) Define and use the term mole in terms of the Avogadro constant

1.3 The determination of relative atomic masses, Ar
a) Analyse mass spectra in terms of isotopic abundances
b) Calculate the relative atomic mass of an element given the relative abundances of its isotopes, or its mass spectrum.