Textbook Question
What discovery about atomic structure was made from the results of Rutherford's gold foil experiment?
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Ch.2 - Atoms, Molecules & Ions
Chapter 2, Problem 95
A period at the end of sentence written with a graphite pen-cil has a diameter of 1 mm. How many carbon atoms would it take to line up across the period if a single carbon atom has a diameter of 150 pm?
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Key Concepts
Here are the essential concepts you must grasp in order to answer the question correctly.
Atomic Diameter
The diameter of an atom is a measure of its size, typically expressed in picometers (pm). For carbon, the diameter is approximately 150 pm, which is essential for calculating how many carbon atoms can fit across a given distance. Understanding atomic size helps in visualizing the scale of atoms in relation to macroscopic objects.
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02:10
Atom Structure
Conversion of Units
To solve the problem, it's crucial to convert units appropriately. The diameter of the period is given in millimeters (mm), while the diameter of a carbon atom is in picometers (pm). Knowing that 1 mm equals 1,000,000 pm allows for a direct comparison and calculation of how many carbon atoms can fit across the period.
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01:56Conversion Factors
Molecular Arrangement
Molecular arrangement refers to how atoms are organized in space. In this context, it involves lining up carbon atoms in a straight line across the diameter of the period. Understanding this concept is vital for visualizing how individual atoms can be counted and arranged in relation to larger structures.
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02:38Molecular Polarity
Related Practice
Textbook Question
Prior to Rutherford's gold foil experi-ment, the 'plum pudding' model of the atom represented atomic structure. In this model, the atom is composed of elec-trons interspersed within a positive cloud of charge. If this were the correct model of the atom, predict how the results of Rutherford's experiment would have been different.
(a) The alpha particles would pass right through the gold foil with little to no deflection.
(b) Most of the alpha particles would be deflected back toward the source.
(c) Most of the alpha particles would be absorbed by the atom and neither pass through nor be deflected from the gold foil.
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Textbook Question
A period at the end of sentence written with a graphite pencil has a diameter of 1 mm. If the period represented the nucleus, approximately how large is the diameter of the entire atom in units of m?
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Textbook Question
What is the difference between an atom's atomic number and its mass number?
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Textbook Question
What is the difference between an element's atomic number and its atomic weight?
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Textbook Question
The subscript giving the atomic number of an atom is often left off when writing an isotope symbol. For example, 6 often written simply as 13C. Why is this allowed?
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