Every year, chemistry students and teachers await October 23 to celebrate “Mole Day.” A “mole” in chemistry is a unit of measurement, which is 6.02214179×1023 atoms, molecules or particles. This fun scientific holiday’s date was chosen because of its numerical value which is why Mole Day is on October 23 and takes place between 6:02 am and 6:02 pm.
At Scotch Plains-Fanwood High School, chemistry students were invited to join in the celebration. During the week of October 16, some chemistry teachers set aside designated class time for students to decorate their Mole Day tee-shirts. Students created colorful tie-dye designs using Sharpie markers and lab chemicals. They are asked to sport their home-made tees the following Monday.
On Mole Day, students were also told to bring a bottle containing a random amount of water to school. For extra credit, students could wish their teachers a happy Mole Day and ask them to guess the number of moles in their bottles. In addition to this, students were told to ask non-chemistry students to guess their bottle amounts as well in order to test their knowledge and spread information about the mole unit.
Throughout the science wing of the school, posters could be found decorating the walls with mole-related puns. These decorations were made by chemistry students and help add to the festiveness of the day.
“Mole Day is a great way to spread awareness about chemistry to those that don’t take the class,” junior Tori O’Connor, an AP chemistry student, said.
Students enjoy this fun, yet educational, chemistry holiday. It breaks up the routine of regular classes and helps students engage in chemistry topics outside of class. Most importantly, it allows students and teachers throughout the school to learn a little more about moles, and chemistry in general.