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The atomic mass of an element in grams is equal to one mole of the
element. Chemists used this definition of a mole long before they were able to
measure the masses of individual atoms or had the means to count atoms. The
determination of Avogadro's number, which is the number of particles in a mole,
required the development of accurate and suitable measuring devices that were not
in existence until the early part of the twentieth century. The mole is considered a
fundamental unit has been adopted into the SI system as a basic unit of quantity. In
this experiment we will make a careful measurement of electron flow, amperage,
and time to obtain the number of electrons passing through the electrochemical
cell. The electron flow, in amperes, is usually referred to as the current. The
number of atoms in a weighed sample can be related to the number of electrons
used and from that the value called Avogadro's number can be calculated.
Avogadro's number can be determined in a number of different ways. This
experiment will use an electrochemical process called electrolysis. The
experimental setup for this process is called an electrolytic cell.
An electrolytic cell is made up of the following:
1. 1. a source of direct current such as a battery or power supply. (We will use
a power supply.)
2. 2. insulated wires to carry the electric current.
3. 3. two electrodes. (In this experiment both electrodes are copper metal. The
electrode connected to the negative (-) pin of the power supply is
the cathode and the electrode connected to the positive (+) pin of the power
supply is the anode.)
4. 4. a solution of sulfuric acid. (Sulfuric acid in this experiment is the
conducting medium in the cell and is called the electrolyte.)
The electrolytic process is used to determine the number of electrons needed to
convert one mole of copper atoms to one mole of copper ions, Cu 2+. This number
divided by two represents the number of atoms converted from copper metal to
copper ions:
Cu -> Cu2+ + 2 electrons.
This process, which involves the loss of electrons, is called oxidation. The number
of copper atoms per mole of copper is Avogadro's number, the value to be
determined. The number of electrons consumed in the process is determined by
using the charge of an electron and the total charge measured. The charge of an
electron was determined in the famous Millikan oil-drop experiment to be

1.60217733 x 10-19coulombs per electron. The number of coulombs used in the

experiment can be calculated from the relationship: one ampere = 1
coulomb/second. An ammeter is used in the experiment to measure the amperage
and a clock or stopwatch is used to measure the time in seconds. The mass of
copper that reacts can be determined by measuring the mass of the anode before
and after the electrolysis.
In the drawing of the electrolytic cell both electrodes are copper and the electrolyte
is 0.5 M H2SO4. In the course of the electrolysis, the copper electrode (the anode)
connected to the positive pin of the power supply loses mass as the copper atoms
are converted to copper ions. This loss of mass is visible to the eye after a while as
pitting of the surface of the metal electrode. Also the copper ions, Cu 2+ , produced,
immediately pass into the water solution and impart a blue tint to the water. At the
same time at the other electrode, the cathode, hydrogen gas, H 2, is liberated at the
surface through the reductionof hydrogen ions, H+, in the aqueous sulfuric acid
solution. The reaction is
2 H+ + 2 electrons -> H2 (gas).
It is also possible to collect the hydrogen gas produced and use it to calculate
Avogadro's number. However, in this experiment we will base calculation of
Avogadro's number on loss of mass of the copper anode.
EXAMPLE
Georgia P. Dunwoody, an industrious coed, made the following measurements in
the chemistry laboratory.
Anode mass lost: 0.3554 grams (g)
(amp)

Current(average): 0.601 amperes

Time of electrolysis: 1802 seconds (s)

Note: one ampere = 1 coulomb/second or one amp.s = 1 coul
charge of an electron 1.602 x 10-19coulomb
Step 1. Find the total charge passed through the circuit.
(0.601 amp)(1coul/1amp-s)(1802 s) = 1083 coul
Step 2. Calculate the number of electrons in the electrolysis.
(1083 coul)( 1 electron/1.6022 x 1019coul) = 6.759 x 10 21electrons
Step 3. Determine the number of copper atoms lost from the anode. Recall the
electrolysis process consumes two electrons per copper ion formed. Therefore the
number of copper(II) ions formed is half the number of electrons.

Number of Cu+2 ions = number of electrons measured , namely,

(6.752 x 10 21 electrons)(1 Cu+2 / 2 electrons) = 3.380 x 10 21 Cu+2 ions
Step 4. Calculate the number of copper ions per gram of copper from the number
of copper ions above and the mass of copper ions produced. The mass of the
copper ions produced is equal to the mass loss of the anode. ( The mass of the
electrons is so small that it is negligible in this measurement, therefore the mass of
the copper (II) ions is the same as copper atoms.)
Thus: mass loss of electrode = mass of Cu +2 ions = 0.3554 g
3.380 x 10 21 Cu+2 ions / 0.3544g = 9.510 x 10 21 Cu+2 ions/g
= 9.510 x 10 21 Cu atoms/g
Step 5. Calculate the number of copper atoms in a mole of copper, 63.546 grams.
Cu atoms /mole of Cu=(9.510 x 10 21 copper atoms/g copper)(63.546
g/mole copper)
= 6.040 x 10 23 copper atoms/mole of copper
This is the student's measured value of Avogaro's number.
Step 6. Calculate the percent error.
Absolute error: |6.02 x 10 23 - 6.04 x 10 23 | = 2 x 10 21
Percent error: (2 x 10 21 / 6.02 x 10 23)(100) = 0.3 %
PROCEDURE
Obtain two copper electrodes. It is may be necessary to first clean the anode before
any measurements are taken. If needed, immerse the anode in 6 M HNO 3 in the
fume hood for 2 to 3 seconds. Remove the electrode promptly. Nitric acid is a
powerful oxidizing agent as well as a strong acid and it will destroy the anode
quickly if not removed. Do not touch the electrode with your fingers. Dip the
electrode in a beaker of clean tap water then dip the electrode in the beaker labeled
alcohol. Let the electrode dry on a paper towel. When the electrode is dry, weigh it
carefully on the analytical balance to the nearest 0.0001 gram.
See the drawing for the arrangement of the apparatus. The electrolytic solution in
the 250-mL beaker is 0.5 M H2SO4. Caution-this solution is corrosive and will
damage skin and clothing on contact. Before making any connections be sure the
power supply is off and unplugged. The power supply must be connected to the
ammeter in series to the electrodes. The correct sequence requires the positive pole
of the power supply be connected to the anode of the first cell. The cathode is next
connected to the positive pin of the ammeter and negative pin of the ammeter is
connected to the anode of the second cell. Finally the cathode of the second
electrolytic cell is connected to the negative post of the power supply. Have your
apparatus approved by the instructor before you turn on the power! When the
apparatus is approved, plug in the power supply. Make sure the power supply is in
the off position. Accurate measurements of the time in seconds and the current in

amperes are essential for good results. The amperage should be recorded at one
minute (60 sec) intervals. The amperage may vary over the course of the
experiment due to changes in the electrolyte solution, temperature, or position of
the electrodes. The amperage used in the calculation should be an average of the
readings taken. The current should flow a minimum of 1020 seconds(17.00
minutes). Measure the time to the limit of the timing device. This should be to the
nearest second or fraction of a second. After 1020 seconds turn off the power
supply record the last amperage value and the time.
Now that the electrolysis has stopped you will need to retrieve the anode from the
cell, dry it, and weigh it on the analytical balance. DO NOT WIPE THE ANODE
WITH A TOWEL. Dry it as before by immersing it in alcohol and allowing it to
dry on a paper towel. If you wipe it you will remove copper from the surface and
invalidate your work.
Repeat the experiment if time is available. Use the same electrodes.