Question

The diameter of a carbon atom is 1.54 å. (a) express this diameter in picometers. (b) how many carbon atoms could be aligned side by side in a straight line across the width of a pencil line that is 0.20 mm wide

Answer 1

Answer: -

(a) 1.54 x 10² pm

(b) 1.3 x 10⁶ is the number of carbon atoms could be aligned side by side in a straight line across the width of 0.2 mm.

Explanation: -

1 å = 10² pm

Diameter of a carbon atom = 1.54 å = 1.54 x 10² pm

1 mm = 10⁹ pm

Total distance = 0.2 mm = 0.2 x 10⁹ pm

Number of carbon atoms could be aligned side by side in a straight line across the width = Total distance / Diameter of a carbon atom

= $\frac{0.2 x 109 pm}{1.54 x 102 pm}$

= 1.3 x 10⁶