Final answer:
The x-axis on a plot to determine Avogadro's number should represent moles of metal ions, and the y-axis should represent moles of electrons. This analysis is based on the relationship between electric charge transferred during electrolysis and the stoichiometry provided by a balanced chemical equation.
Step-by-step explanation:
To determine Avogadro's number using a plot, the x-axis should represent the moles of metal ions while the y-axis should represent the moles of electrons. In a typical experiment aimed at finding Avogadro's number, you would measure the quantity of electric charge required to deposit or dissolve a known amount of a substance during an electrolysis process. Using Faraday's laws, you can relate this charge to the number of moles of electrons and then to the moles of the metal ions involved in the reaction.
Using the charge of a single electron and Avogadro's number, we can calculate the faraday (F), which is the charge on 1 mol of electrons. This provides a link between observable macroscopic quantities—the amount of substance and the charge in coulombs—and the microscopic quantity, which is Avogadro's number.
A balanced chemical equation is crucial in this process because it ensures that the stoichiometry of the reaction is accurately reflected in the conversion between electrons transferred and the amount of substance deposited or dissolved.