Ch.1 - Chemical Tools: Experimentation & Measurement

Problem 4a

Chapter 1, Problem 4a

A mammalian HELA cell has a diameter of 2 * 10-5 m. Report the diameter of the cell using the most appropriate prefix on the base unit of meter. (LO 1.5) (a) 2 µm

Verified step by step guidance

First, let's understand the prefixes used in the metric system. The prefix 'micro' (µ) represents 10^-6, which means one millionth of the base unit.

Next, we need to convert the given diameter of the cell from meters to micrometers. To do this, we multiply the given diameter by the conversion factor that represents the relationship between meters and micrometers. In this case, 1 meter is equal to 10^6 micrometers.

So, to convert the diameter from meters to micrometers, we multiply the given diameter (2 * 10^-5 m) by the conversion factor (10^6 µm/m).

By multiplying these values, we find that the diameter of the cell in micrometers is 2 * 10^-5 m * 10^6 µm/m.

Finally, simplify the expression to get the diameter of the cell in micrometers. Remember, when multiplying numbers with exponents, you add the exponents if the base numbers are the same.

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Key Concepts

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

Metric Prefixes

Metric prefixes are used to denote specific powers of ten, making it easier to express large or small quantities. For example, 'micro-' (µ) represents 10^-6, allowing us to express measurements in a more manageable form. In the context of the question, converting meters to micrometers simplifies the representation of the cell's diameter.

Unit Conversion

Unit conversion is the process of converting a quantity expressed in one unit to another unit. This involves multiplying by a conversion factor that relates the two units. In this case, converting the diameter of the HELA cell from meters to micrometers requires multiplying by 1,000,000 (or 10^6) to express the measurement in a more suitable unit for biological cells.

Cell Size in Biology

Understanding cell size is crucial in biology, as it affects cellular function and organization. Mammalian cells, like HELA cells, typically range from 10 to 30 micrometers in diameter. Recognizing the scale of cellular structures helps in various biological applications, including microscopy and cell biology research.

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Textbook Question

Which of the following statements is a hypothesis about the synthesis of gold nanoparticles? (LO 1.1) (a) Adding a salt solution to gold nanoparticles causes the color to change from red to blue. (b) To examine the effect of salt on gold nanoparticles, variable concentrations of salt are added to the nanopar-ticles and the results are measured (c) A solution of gold nanoparticles with an average diam-eter of 30 nm has a wavelength of maximum absorption of 450 nm and is a reddish-orange color. (d) Adding a substance with a negative charge to the surface of the nanoparticles creates repulsive forces that stabilize small particle size

Convert 0.055 milliseconds to seconds, and write the answer in scientific notation. (LO 1.3) (a) 5.5 * 10-3 s (b) 5.5 * 10-4 s (c) 5.5 * 10-5 s (d) 5.5 * 10-7 s

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Textbook Question

Which quantity represents the largest mass? (LO 1.4) (a) 2.5 * 107 mg (b) 2.5 * 102 mg (c) 2.5 * 108 ng (d)2.5*10-3kg

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Textbook Question

A mammalian HELA cell has a diameter of 2 * 10-5 m. Report the diameter of the cell using the most appropriate prefix on the base unit of meter. (LO 1.5) (b) 20 µm

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Textbook Question

A mammalian HELA cell has a diameter of 2 * 10-5 m. Report the diameter of the cell using the most appropriate prefix on the base unit of meter. (LO 1.5) (c) 200 nm

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Textbook Question

A mammalian HELA cell has a diameter of 2 * 10-5 m. Report the diameter of the cell using the most appropriate prefix on the base unit of meter. (LO 1.5) (d) 0.2 mm

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