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Ch.2 - Atoms, Molecules, and Ions
Chapter 2, Problem 20c

The radius of an atom of copper (Cu) is about 140 pm. (c) If you assume that the Cu atom is a sphere, what is the volume in cm3 of a single atom?

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Key Concepts

Here are the essential concepts you must grasp in order to answer the question correctly.

Atomic Volume Calculation

To calculate the volume of a spherical atom, we use the formula for the volume of a sphere, V = (4/3)πr³, where r is the radius. In this case, the radius of the copper atom is given in picometers (pm), which must be converted to centimeters (cm) for the final volume calculation.
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Unit Conversion

Unit conversion is essential in chemistry to ensure that measurements are in compatible units. Since the radius of the copper atom is provided in picometers, it must be converted to centimeters (1 pm = 1 x 10^-10 cm) before using it in volume calculations to maintain consistency in units.
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Conversion Factors

Spherical Geometry

Understanding the geometry of a sphere is crucial for this problem. A sphere is defined as a three-dimensional shape where all points on the surface are equidistant from the center. This geometric property is fundamental when applying the volume formula, as it directly relates to how we perceive the size and space occupied by an atom.
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Related Practice
Textbook Question

Millikan determined the charge on the electron by studying the static charges on oil drops falling in an electric field (Figure 2.5). A student carried out this experiment using several oil drops for her measurements and calculated the charges on the drops. She obtained the following data: Droplet Calculated Charge (C) A 1.60 * 10-19 B 3.15 * 10-19 C 4.81 * 10-19 D 6.31 * 10-19 (b) What conclusion can the student draw from these data regarding the charge of the electron?

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Textbook Question

Millikan determined the charge on the electron by studying the static charges on oil drops falling in an electric field (Figure 2.5). A student carried out this experiment using several oil drops for her measurements and calculated the charges on the drops. She obtained the following data: Droplet Calculated Charge (C) A 1.60 * 10-19 B 3.15 * 10-19 C 4.81 * 10-19 D 6.31 * 10-19 (c) What value (and to how many significant figures) should she report for the electronic charge?

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Textbook Question

The radius of an atom of tungsten (W) is about 2.10 A . (c) If the atom is assumed to be a sphere, what is the volume in m3 of a single W atom?

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Textbook Question

Determine whether each of the following statements is true or false. If false, correct the statement to make it true: (a) The nucleus has most of the mass and comprises most of the volume of an atom.

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Textbook Question

Determine whether each of the following statements is true or false. If false, correct the statement to make it true: (b) Every atom of a given element has the same number of protons.

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Textbook Question

Determine whether each of the following statements is true or false. If false, correct the statement to make it true: (c) The number of electrons in an atom equals the number of neutrons in the atom.

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