What is a Mole?

Moles are used to measure elements. A moles is equal to the atomic mass of the molecule and is represented by the number 6.02 X 10^23. This mass is measured in grams. The mole was discovered by Amadeo Avogardo, an Italian physics professor, in 1811. Fifty years later an Italian scientiest used Avogardo's hypothesis to develop a set of atomic eights for the known elements. Then an Australian high school teacher calculated the size of a molecule of air. This developed an estimate for the number of molecules in a given volume of air. Moles are important in chemistry because they allow us the find the mass of any given element or compound.

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http://www.moleday.org/

Earth's Biogeochemical Cycles

Biogeochemical cycles are pathways in which a chemical or compound moves through Earth's biosphere, atmosphere, hydrosphere and lithosphere. These reservoirs are all interconnected. In the biosphere, when water evaporates the water moves into the atmosphere in a gas form. Then when it rains that same gas is turned back into water and is put back into the biosphere, where it then ends up in the hydrosphere. Studying cycles together is more important than studying them seperatly is important because by looking at how they converge there is a deeper understanding of the unity between the biosphere, lithosphere, hydrosphere and atmosphere.