Question

What is the mass of 6.02 x 10^23 atoms of potassium

Answer 1

So we know that this amount of atoms is Avogadro's number - the number of atoms in 1 mole of a substance.

So then, using dimensional analysis, we can find the mass, in grams, of potassium.

First we must find the molar weight of potassium as found on the periodic table: 39.098g/mol

Then we can solve directly for mass:

`(6.022x10^(23)atoms)/(1)*(1mol)/(6.022x10^(23)atoms)*(39.098g)/(1mol)=39.098g`

Therefore, the amount of atoms you have given, in terms of mass, will equal 39.098g - if the answer requires significant figures, then the mass would be 39.1g of potassium.