The size of a hydrogen atom is about 1.2×10−10

Question

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 ×10−10
m
3.2 times 10 superscript negative 10 baseline m

3.2×10−9
 m
3.2 times 10 superscript negative 9 baseline  m

2.72×10−10
m
2.72 times 10 superscript negative 10 baseline m

3.2×10−11 
m

Answer 1

To find the difference between the sizes of the hydrogen and oxygen atoms, we first convert the size of the oxygen atom into scientific notation.

The size of the oxygen atom is given as: \[ 0.000000000152 , \text{m} = 1.52 \times 10^{-10} , \text{m} \]

Now we have:

• Size of hydrogen atom: \(1.2 \times 10^{-10} , \text{m}\)
• Size of oxygen atom: \(1.52 \times 10^{-10} , \text{m}\)

Next, we need to subtract the size of the hydrogen atom from the size of the oxygen atom: \[ 1.52 \times 10^{-10} , \text{m} - 1.2 \times 10^{-10} , \text{m} \]

To perform the subtraction: \[ (1.52 - 1.2) \times 10^{-10} = 0.32 \times 10^{-10} \]

Now we convert \(0.32\) into scientific notation: \[ 0.32 = 3.2 \times 10^{-1} \]

Thus: \[ 0.32 \times 10^{-10} = 3.2 \times 10^{-1} \times 10^{-10} = 3.2 \times 10^{-11} , \text{m} \]

Therefore, the difference between the sizes of the hydrogen and oxygen atoms is: \[ \boxed{3.2 \times 10^{-11} , \text{m}} \]