At 06:49 PM 4/5/2009, Chris S wrote:
>I wonder if it is any coincidence that one coulomb, 6.02 x 10^23, is
>the same number that's used to calculate the molecular mass on the
>periodic table?

The particular coincidence involved is that I quoted the wrong
constant...Avogadro's number of electrons is actually an obsolete
unit called the faraday, and the coulomb is a few per cent
larger.  As to the underlying physics, I don't know but I would be
completely unsurprised to find there was a connection.

<blush>
d

  --
David Beierl - Providence RI USA -- http://pws.prserv.net/synergy/Vanagon/
'89 Po' White Star "Scamp"