Calculate the radius of a vanadium atom, given that V has a BCC crystal structure, a density of 5.96 g/cm3, and an atomic weight of 50.9 g/mol.

I used this equation:

density = (2)*(atomic weight) / (volume of unit cell)*(Avagodro's #)

rearranged to find the volume of the unit cell, V_c.

Then I used the relation:

V_c = a^3 = (4R/sqrt(3))^3
V_c = 64R^3/3sqrt(3)

to find the radius R.

I got R = 1.3x10^-8

They want answers in nm so I should get 0.13nm?

1 answer

Move the decimal to the left once, and subtract one from the exponent.