Happy Mole Day!

In science, the mole is a measure of a quantity of a substance. A mole of particles has been described as about 6.02 times 10 to the 23rd power of those particles. This number, also known as Avagadro’s number, is why Mole Day is celebrated on October 23 (10/23). It is hard to imagine such a large number:
- one mole of popcorn kernels would bury the United States to a depth of 9 miles
- one mole of table tennis balls placed side by side would extend from the Earth to beyond the Andromeda galaxy

Although Avagadro’s number is large, it is usually used to describe quantities of small particles such as atoms or molecules.
- nearly two moles of liquid water molecules could fit into a table tennis ball
- one mole of gas molecules could properly inflate only two basketballs