Mole Day is an unofficial holiday celebrated among chemists, chemistry students, and chemistry enthusiasts on October 23 between 6:02 a.m. and 6:02 p.m.,[1][2][3][4] making the date 6:02 10/23 in either MDY or YMD date formats. The time and date are derived from the Avogadro constant, which is approximately 6.02×1023, defining the number of particles (atoms or molecules) in one mole (mol) of substance, one of the seven base SI units.
| Mole Day | |
|---|---|
| Observed by | Chemists |
| Type | Academic |
| Significance | Avogadro constant |
| Begins | 6:02am on October 23 |
| Ends | 6:02pm on October 23 |
| Date | October 23 |
| Next time | 23 October 2024 (2024-10-23) |
| Frequency | Annual |
Mole Day originated from a celebration by educator Margaret Christoph.[5] She wrote an article about her experiences in The Science Teacher in the 1980s.[6] Inspired by this article, Maurice Oehler, a high school chemistry teacher from Prairie du Chien, Wisconsin, founded the National Mole Day Foundation (NMDF) on May 15, 1991.[6]
Many high schools around the United States, South Africa, Australia, and Canada celebrate Mole Day as a way to get their students interested in chemistry, with various activities often related to chemistry or moles.[6]
The American Chemical Society sponsors National Chemistry Week,[1] which occurs from the Sunday through Saturday during which October 23 falls. This makes Mole Day an integral part of National Chemistry Week.[citation needed]