To find the number of atoms in 5 moles of carbon, multiply the number of moles by Avogadro's number (6.022 × 10²³ atoms/mol).
5 moles × 6.022 × 10²³ atoms/mol = 3.011 × 10²⁴ atoms
Therefore, 5 moles of carbon contains approximately 3.01 × 10²⁴ atoms. This calculation works because one mole of any substance is defined as containing Avogadro's number of particles (atoms, molecules, or ions). Since carbon exists as individual atoms rather than molecules in its elemental form, each mole contains 6.022 × 10²³ carbon atoms. This relationship is fundamental to chemistry and allows chemists to convert between the macroscopic scale of grams and moles that we can measure in the laboratory, and the atomic scale where individual particles interact according to quantum mechanics.