If an oil molecule is 100*10^-10m in diameter,then can 10^24 molecules fit exactly in a cube 1m on a side? Please help me answer this showing working out.

Answer 1

If the diameter of an oil molecule is exactly 100 x 10^-10 m (better stated as 1.00E-8 meters) it will take up 1E-8 m space. Let's think of a square that is 1 meter on a side. How many molecules call be place in ONE row. We can place exactly 1E8 (because 1E8*1E-8 = 1 meter.
How many rows can we make? We can make 1E8 rows. So now we have a square of 1E8 rows. If we make a cube, then we can have 1E8*1E8*1E8 = 1E24. So yes. They can fit exactly. Of course these are round so there will still be spaces in the 1 m cube.

Answer 2

Dr.Bob, I cannot understand why you changed 100*10 ^-10 to 1E-8m? What is their relationship?