Final answer:
The concept of quantity equivalence in measuring one mole of copper using pennies illustrates how a mole provides a constant number of atoms, allowing for comparisons between substances regardless of physical differences in copper penny samples.
Step-by-step explanation:
The measurement of one mole of copper using copper pennies can highlight the concept of quantity equivalence despite differences in the size and shape of the piles composed because a mole represents a constant number of atoms. By measuring 63.5 grams of copper, each student will have exactly one mole, or 6.022 × 10^(23) copper atoms, regardless of how the individual pennies are shaped or sized. This is similar to counting money in dollars rather than individual pennies - using a larger unit (like a mole) simplifies the counting of large quantities.
By visualizing a mole in terms of copper pennies, students learn that one mole of any element contains the same number of atoms, corresponding to Avogadro's number. Hence, a mole provides a link between the macroscopic world we can see and count (such as a pile of pennies) and the microscopic world of atoms and molecules. Moreover, the concept of molar mass allows comparison across different elements, as one mole of an element's atomic mass (in grams) contains the same number of atoms, illustrating the uniformity of the mole across substances. The molar mass of copper is 63.5 grams, which offers a tangible way to measure and understand the mole concept.