Units and Measurement

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Question : 27
Total: 33
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. Are the two densities of the same order ofmagnitude? If so, why?
Solution:  
Here, average radius of sodium atom,r=2.5Å=2.5×1010m
∴ Volume of sodium atom =
4
3
π
r3

=
4
3
×3.14
×(2.5×1010 )3

=65.42×1030 m3
Mass of a mole of sodium =23 gram
=23×103 kg
Also we know that each mole contains 6.023×1023 atoms, hence the massof sodium atom,
M=
23×103
6.023×1023
kg

=3.82×1026 kg
Average mass density of sodium atom.
ρ=
M
V

=
3.82×1026
65.42×1030
kg
m3

=0.58×103 kg m3
Density of sodium in crystalline phase =970k gm3=0.970×103kg m3
Averagemassdensityofsodiumatom
Densityofsodiumincrystallinephase

=
0.58×103
0.970×103

=0.66
Yes, both densities are of the same order of magnitude, i.e. of the order of103.
This is because in the solid phase atoms are tightly packed.
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