Test Index

Units and Measurement

© examsnet.com
Question : 27 of 33
Marks: +1, -0
Estimate the average mass density of a sodium atom assuming its size to be about 2.5 Å. (Use the known values of Avogadro’s number and the atomic mass of sodium). Compare it with the density of sodium in itscrystalline phase : 970 kg m3^{-3}. Are the two densities of the same order ofmagnitude? If so, why?
Solution:  
Here, average radius of sodium atom,r=2.5A˚=2.5×1010mr = 2.5 \text{\AA} = 2.5 \times 10^{-10} \text{m}
∴ Volume of sodium atom =43πr3= \frac{4}{3} \pi r^{3}
=43×3.14×(2.5×1010)3= \frac{4}{3} \times 3.14 \times (2.5 \times 10^{-10})^{3}
=65.42×1030m3= 65.42 \times 10^{-30} \text{m}^{3}
Mass of a mole of sodium =23=23 gram
=23×103kg= 23 \times 10^{-3} \text{kg}
Also we know that each mole contains 6.023×10236.023 \times 10^{23} atoms, hence the massof sodium atom,
M=23×1036.023×1023kgM = \frac{23 \times 10^{-3}}{6.023 \times 10^{23}} \text{kg}
=3.82×1026kg= 3.82 \times 10^{-26} \text{kg}
\therefore Average mass density of sodium atom.
ρ=MV\rho = \frac{M}{V}
=3.82×102665.42×1030kgm3= \frac{3.82 \times 10^{-26}}{65.42 \times 10^{-30}} \text{kg} \text{m}^{-3}
=0.58×103kgm3= 0.58 \times 10^{3} \text{kg} \text{m}^{-3}
Density of sodium in crystalline phase =970kgm3=0.970×103kgm3= 970 k \text{gm}^{-3} = 0.970 \times 10^{3} \text{kg} \text{m}^{-3}
Average mass density of sodiumatomDensity of sodium in crystalline phase\therefore \frac{\text{Average mass density of sodiumatom}}{\text{Density of sodium in crystalline phase}}
=0.58×1030.970×103= \frac{0.58 \times 10^{3}}{0.970 \times 10^{3}}
=0.66=0.66
Yes, both densities are of the same order of magnitude, i.e. of the order of103^{3}.
This is because in the solid phase atoms are tightly packed.
© examsnet.com
Go to Question: