Uncovering the Scoop: The Underground Agent
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In a groundbreaking development, the Measurement Standards Laboratory (MSL) of New Zealand has announced a significant change to the definition of the mole, a fundamental unit of measurement in chemistry. The change, which took effect on the 20th of May [2019], was the focus of a presentation by Farzana Masouleh of MSL, filmed at the Unleash Space, Faculty of Engineering, Auckland University.
The video, produced by MSL and filmed by Jonathon Potton of Chillbox Creative, revealed that the mole is now defined as the amount of substance containing 6.022 140 76 x 10 specified elementary entities. This shift in definition is similar to the fixed usage of other fundamental constants, such as Boltzmann's constant, Planck's constant, and electron charge.
Prior to this change, the mole was defined as the amount of substance containing the same number of chemical units as there are atoms in exactly 12 grams of carbon-12. However, the new definition, which is now based on Avogadro's number (N), has been fixed at 6.022 140 76 x 10 mol, ensuring consistency and clarity in chemical measurements.
The video, which was filmed before the change to the SI definitions in 2019, is part of MSL's initiative to share the story of metrology development. Mole Day, an unofficial holiday celebrated by scientists, also has a connection to Avogadro's number. October 23 and 6:02 am (or pm) were chosen for Mole Day because they correspond to Avogadro's number, approximately (6.022 \times 10^{23}), which is the number of particles in one mole—a fundamental concept in chemistry. Specifically, the date 10/23 represents "10 to the 23rd power," and the time 6:02 represents the "6.02" part of Avogadro's number, making the celebration a clever nod to this important constant.
The redefinition of the mole marks a significant milestone in the field of chemistry, providing a more precise and consistent means of measuring chemical substances. As the use of Avogadro's number for the definition of one mole becomes standard, it is expected to streamline chemical calculations and enhance the accuracy of scientific research.
Science has the potential to influence various areas, such as health-and-wellness, with the redefinition of the mole offering improved precision for chemical substances' measurements. This shift could impact therapies-and-treatments, as increased accuracy in chemical calculations may lead to more effective health-and-wellness interventions.
