6.23 X 10^23 for the inerrantists and Ronal

Helen Willis (hhiwater@mail.bright.net)
Tue, 25 Mar 1997 13:09:11 -0800

I asked one of you bright people, I think it was Magill. (I can't save most
of my posts) what the number 6.23 X 10^23 was and why most people who had
taken even high school science might recognize it. I think, it was Magill
that then wrote the science he had taken was chemistry. He didn't reply on
the number. He did, however, send me that strange multiple personality rant.
I will now give you a big hint it is called "Avogadro's number" and I will
even explain what it is. It is the number of molecule in a mole. It is
related to Avogadro's law which has form the underpinning for chemistry since
about 1800. Magill, and the rest of you that want to explain how unscientific
evolution is, let's try these, why do chemists talk about moles of chemicals?
What nice thing happens to the mass (mass means weight more or less for this
question) in the metric system of an element, if we take a mole of it? Why is
all this the first thing that most people learn in high school chemistry? I
have just about given you the answer, but I bet none of you can give it to
me. I know Michael Fisher and April can. I suspect David Court can, which is
why it is sometimes worthwhile to go over this stuff with him, but can Magill
tell me why chemists use moles? Ronal? Woodcock?
And again, just like with Santa Claus, Pangaea, and evolution, you would
make more sense, and, perhaps, even make a better case for your lord, if you
would just look these things up in an encyclopedia prior to shooting your
mouths off? You can get a CDROM encyclopedia for under $50. There is no
excuse for this kind of ranting of blatant ignorance! Please, would all of
you GET A GRIP!
Helen Willis
hhiwater@bright.net