Final answer:
b) 1.18 × 10-6 nm
The radius of a silicon atom when converted from centimeters to nanometers is 1.18 × 10-6 nm, by multiplying the initial value by 102 to change the unit of measurement.
Step-by-step explanation:
To convert the radius of a silicon atom from centimeters to nanometers (nm), we need to remember that 1 nm = 10-7 cm. Therefore, if the radius of a silicon atom is 1.18 × 10-8 cm, we can multiply this value by 102 to change the units from centimeters to nanometers.
1.18 × 10-8 cm * 102 = 1.18 × 10-6 nm
So, the correct answer is b) 1.18 × 10-6 nm, which is the radius of a silicon atom expressed in nanometers.