Mole is a traditional Mexican sauce made from at least two types of chilies, a sour ingredient like tomatillos, something sweet like sugar, fruit or chocolate, nuts, thickeners like peanut butter or tortillas, and spices. Mole can be served in many ways, not just with enchiladas. The word “mole” comes from the Nahuatl word “molli”, which simply means sauce. Mole contains garlic, chili, tomato, onions, dry fruits, and sometimes chocolate.
When cooked together over time, these ingredients form a unique flavor that is the base of many Mexican dishes. Not all mole recipes contain chocolate. Mole Negro, Mole Poblano, and Mole Colorado may have some chocolate. Mole is a classic Mexican dish combining ingredients from North America, Europe, Africa, and Asia, making it one of the first intercontinental dishes in the Americas. Mole mixes indigenous ingredients like chilies and cacao beans with later additions from the Old World. It has evolved over centuries but keeps its roots.
There are many ways to make mole if you don’t have the traditional molcajete mortar and pestle. You can use an electric blender to chop and mix the ingredients into a paste. Then simmer the paste in broth until thickened. While not exactly the same texture, it will still taste like delicious mole!
The most popular mole is mole poblano, a deep reddish-brown mole made from chilies, spices like cinnamon and oregano, and served over chicken. But there are many mole variations beyond poblano, such as mole negro, chichilo, and amarillo. The specific dried chiles, ingredients like fruits or nuts, and what mole is served with are ways it can be customized. With so many options, mole has become an iconic symbol of Mexican cuisine.
What is a mole in chemistry?
The mole, abbreviated as “mol”, is a unit used to measure the amount of a substance in chemistry. One mole contains 6.02214 x 10^23 particles. The particles can be atoms, molecules, ions, or electrons. The mole links mass and number of particles of a substance. It allows easy conversion between mass and number of particles.
The mole is useful in chemistry to express amounts of reactants and products in chemical reactions balanced equations. For example, the reaction 2 H2 + O2 → 2 H2O shows that for every 2 mol of molecular hydrogen (H2) and 1 mol of molecular oxygen (O2) that react, 2 mol of water (H2O) form.
A mole of a compound contains Avogadro’s number of molecules of that compound. For example, 1 mol of sodium chloride (NaCl) contains 6.02214 x 10^23 molecules of NaCl. It also contains 1 mol of sodium atoms and 1 mol of chlorine atoms.
If an element symbol has a number coefficient, that coefficient gives the number of moles of that element present. For instance, 2C means there are 2 mol of carbon atoms.
One mole contains the same number of particles as there are atoms in exactly 12 grams of carbon-12 isotope. Carbon-12 has an atomic mass of 12 g/mol. So 1 mol of any element contains the same number particles as 12 g of carbon-12, which is Avogadro’s number (6.022 x 10^23 particles).
The mole links mass and number of particles. It allows easy conversion between the mass and number of particles of a substance. The mole is widely used in chemistry as a convenient way to express amounts of reactants and products in chemical reactions or compounds.
How do I get rid of moles?
While medical procedures are the safest methods, you could consider trying a few home remedies first. Identify active mole runways, set mole traps, use bait, and consider applying fumigants to your yard.
To keep moles out, eliminate food like insects, dig exclusion trenches, and remove debris piles sheltering them. Experts will employ trapping and baiting tactics. Use castor oil and baking soda – bake a paste, apply on the mole overnight before washing off. Mix castor oil and soap in water – an effective homemade repellent.
You’ll need a dermatologist to remove a mole properly. Trying alone can cause problems. Mole removal is routine – schedule an appointment and the mole will soon be gone. Consider that burning off a mole may hurt a little. If a mole bleeds continually, see a dermatologist – though that may signify skin cancer. The fastest mole removal method is a topical solution or cream – it dissolves the tissue until the mole falls off.
What exactly is one mole?
One mole contains exactly 6.02214076 × 1023 elementary entities. This number is the Avogadro constant when expressed in mol−1 units, called the Avogadro number. Originally, a mole equaled the number of atoms in 12 grams of carbon-12. That number is Avogadro’s number, roughly 6.02 × 1023. A mole of carbon atoms is 6.02 × 1023 atoms.
The mole measures amount of substance. The Avogadro constant (NA) has the unit mol−1. The ratio n = N/NA measures amount of substance in moles.
Mole can be defined as equal to Avogadro’s number of particles. 6.022 × 1023 hydrogen atoms represent one mole of hydrogen. 6.022 × 1023 water molecules represent one mole of water.
Molar concentration measures dissolved substance per volume, typically moles per liter (mol/L).
One mole equals 6.02214076 × 1023 elementary entities. This fixed number is the Avogadro constant when expressed in mol−1 units.
At standard temperature and pressure, one mole of a gas occupies 22.4 liters. Using Avogadro’s number, the mass of a gas sample can be calculated from a known volume at standard temperature and pressure.
The Avogadro constant (NA) equals the number of particles in one mole. Atoms, molecules or ions are examples of these particles.
One mole contains 6.02214076 × 1023 elementary entities. This number defines the mole since May 2019, superseding the definition referring to 12 grams of carbon-12.
A mole equals 6.02214076 × 1023 molecules of a substance. Avogadro’s number is very large, so moles are more convenient to use than counting individual molecules. One mole equals one gram per mole or one mole per liter for any substance.