NATIONAL MOLE DAY
National Mole Day recognizes a special number in chemistry. We’ll eliminate any visions of a burrowing creature celebration immediately. Chemists and chemistry students mark the occasion each year on October 23rd.
More specifically, the celebrations take place between 6:02 AM and 6:02 PM. In the U.S., the time and date are written 6:02 10/23. The time and date are derived from Avogadro’s number. Avagadro’s number is approximately 6.02×10^23. Hence, defining the number of particles (atoms or molecules) in one mole of substance, one of the seven base SI units.
- A mole is a unit of measurement used in chemistry to express amounts of a chemical substance.
- Avogadro’s number is a historical term closely related to the Avogadro constant.
- The Avogadro constant is named after the early 19th-century Italian scientist Amedeo Avogadro.
HOW TO OBSERVE #NationalMoleDay
There are several ways to celebrate this scientific day. Do you know how to use the mole in an equation?
- Learn more about molecular science and Avogadro’s number.
- Explore the international system of measurement using moles.
- Test your knowledge of chemistry. Celebrate with other chemists and chemistry students.
- Conduct a mole experiment. While conducting it, see how many puns you can tell.
- In your classroom, do a video with your students demonstrating what a mole is.
- Create a rap about the mole. Be sure to include a little history of Amedeo Avogadro.
- While reading up on Italian scientist Amedeo Avogadro, explore other chemists of his era.
Share your knowledge using #NationalMoleDay to post on social media.
NATIONAL MOLE DAY HISTORY
An article in The Science Teacher in the early 1980s created National Mole Day. Prairie du Chien, a Wisconsin High School chemistry teacher, became inspired by the article and founded the National Mole Day Foundation on May 15, 1991.
There are over 1,500 national days. Don’t miss a single one. Celebrate Every Day® with National Day Calendar®!
