Question

Calculate the approximate number of atoms in a bacterium. Assume that the average mass of an atom in the bacterium is ten times the mass of a hydrogen atom. (Hint: The mass of a hydrogen atom is on the order of 10^(-27) kg and the mass of a bacterium is on the order of 10^(-15) kg.)

a) Approximately 10^16 atoms
b) Approximately 10^18 atoms
c) Approximately 10^20 atoms
d) Approximately 10^22 atoms

Answer 1

The approximate number of atoms in a bacterium is approximately 10.

Step-by-step explanation:

To calculate the approximate number of atoms in a bacterium, we can use the given information about the average mass of an atom in the bacterium and the mass of a hydrogen atom.

First, we need to calculate the mass of the bacterium in atomic mass units (AMU). We know that the average mass of an atom in the bacterium is ten times the mass of a hydrogen atom, so the mass of the bacterium would be 10 times the mass of a hydrogen atom.

Next, we can divide the mass of the bacterium by the mass of a hydrogen atom to find the approximate number of atoms in the bacterium.

Using the given approximate masses, we have:

Mass of a hydrogen atom = 10-27 kg

Mass of a bacterium = 10-15 kg

To convert the masses to atomic mass units (AMU), we can use the fact that 1 AMU is approximately equal to the mass of a hydrogen atom. Therefore:

Mass of a hydrogen atom = 1 AMU

Mass of a bacterium = 10 x 1 AMU (since the average mass of an atom in the bacterium is ten times the mass of a hydrogen atom)

Now, we can divide the mass of the bacterium by the mass of a hydrogen atom:

Number of atoms in a bacterium = (10 x 1 AMU) / 1 AMU = 10 AMU

Therefore, the approximate number of atoms in a bacterium is approximately 101 or 10.