LETTERS Ounce Molecular Weight
this with the gram molecular volume in liters is of course due to the accidental near equality of the numTo the Editor: ber of grams in an ounce and the number of liters in a I have read with interest and approval the suggestion cubic foot. In teaching freshman chemistry I have in the June issue of the JOURNAL OF CHEMICAL EDUCA- made it a habit to point out to the students that 22.4 TION by Professors Audrieth and Johnstone that is by chance not only the gram molecular volume in students in general chemistry should be given more liters but also the ounce molecular volume in cubic experience in the use of the English system of weights feet, and I have given the students practice in working and measures in making chemical calculations. But gas-law problems in the English system as well as the I do not think that i t is wise to require the student to metric system. Use of the English system seems t o learn a new number, 359, which is the pound molecular give the students an increased feeling of the sigvolume in cubic feet. nificance of the calculations that he is making. A few years ago I either read in some forgotten Lmus PAULING book or article or noted by chance that the volume in cubic feet occupied a t standard conditions by an ounce molecular weight of a gas is 22.4. The identity of
