Final answer:
To convert the radius of a helium atom from 31 picometers to nanometers, divide by 1,000, giving a radius of 0.031 nanometers.
Step-by-step explanation:
The radius of a helium atom is given as 31 picometers (PM). To convert this measurement to nanometers (nm), we need to use the unit conversion that 1 nanopico meter is equivalent to 10-9 meters, whereas 1 picometer is equivalent to 10-12 meters. To convert from picometers to nanometers, you divide the number of picometers by 1,000 since there are 1,000 picometers in one nanometer.
The radius of a helium atom in nanometers can thus be calculated as follows:
Radius in nm = Radius in pm / 1,000
Therefore, the radius in nanometers is:
31 pm / 1,000 = 0.031 nm.