The size of a hydrogen atom is about 1.2×10−10 m across. The size of an oxygen atom is 0.000000000152 m across. What is the difference between the sizes of these atoms in scientific notation?(1 point) Responses 3.2×10−9 m 3.2 times 10 superscript negative 9 baseline m 3.2×10−11 m 3.2 times 10 superscript negative 11 baseline m 2.72×10−10 m 2.72 times 10 superscript negative 10 baseline m 3.2 ×10−10 m

1 answer

To find the difference between the sizes of a hydrogen atom (1.2 × 10^−10 m) and an oxygen atom (1.52 × 10^−10 m), we can subtract these two values.

  1. Convert the sizes of both atoms into the same scientific notation:
  • Size of hydrogen atom: \( 1.2 \times 10^{-10} , \text{m} \)
  • Size of oxygen atom: \( 1.52 \times 10^{-10} , \text{m} \)
  1. Subtract the size of the hydrogen atom from the size of the oxygen atom:

\[ 1.52 \times 10^{-10} , \text{m} - 1.2 \times 10^{-10} , \text{m} = (1.52 - 1.2) \times 10^{-10} , \text{m} = 0.32 \times 10^{-10} , \text{m} \]

  1. Convert \( 0.32 \times 10^{-10} \) into proper scientific notation:

( 0.32 \times 10^{-10} = 3.2 \times 10^{-11} , \text{m} )

Thus, the difference between the sizes of the hydrogen and oxygen atoms is:

\(\boxed{3.2 \times 10^{-11} , \text{m}}\)