On Avogadro's Number ( a s Shakespeare's Pmspero might write)
I once wrought wonders with my sorcery; But, when I saw what Chemistry could do, I broke my wand, forgot the secret words, And threw my magic books into the sea. The greet Italian Chemist, Avogttdro, Observine that all cases were alike.
An equal number of the moleeules, Regardless of the nature of the gss. This thought, a t Brat a mere hypothesis, Became accepted fact. I t was the door Throueh which there entered modern Chemistrv. " And now, how large is Avogadro's number?
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A hundred years went by, hefare men knew. They take the volume gram-molecular, I n liters twenty-two point four, ice-cold, And dry a t standard atmospheric pressure. The number found is huge; a little more Than six times ten raised to power twenty-three. This number is too big to understand. And it is just as vague in powers of ten As writing six with zeros twenty-three Or words: "Six hundred million million billion." If d l the lands in all the world were lawns (No desert, mountain, forest or plowed ground), Where grsss blades grew, one hundred to the foot, On eech square foot ten thousand, 811 the Earth Has room for two times ten to nineteenth power. So, thirty thousand grassy worlds might raise The blades to tie the Avogadro Number. S. R. SCHOLEB Box 752, ALFRED,N.Y.
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Journal of Chemical Eduwfion
