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)

Question

• 3.2 × 10-10 m
03.2 × 10-9 m
02.72 × 10-10 m
• 3.2 × 10-11 m

Answer 1

To find the difference between the sizes of a hydrogen atom and an oxygen atom, we first need to express the sizes of both atoms in scientific notation clearly:

• Size of hydrogen atom: \( 1.2 \times 10^{-10} , \text{m} \)
• Size of oxygen atom: \( 1.52 \times 10^{-10} , \text{m} \) (note that \( 0.000000000152 , \text{m} = 1.52 \times 10^{-10} , \text{m} \))

Now, we can calculate the difference in size:

\[ \text{Difference} = \text{Size of Oxygen} - \text{Size of Hydrogen} \]

\[ \text{Difference} = (1.52 \times 10^{-10}) - (1.2 \times 10^{-10}) \]

This can be calculated as follows:

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

Now we convert \( 0.32 \) into scientific notation:

\[ 0.32 \times 10^{-10} = 3.2 \times 10^{-11} \]

So the difference between the sizes of the atoms in scientific notation is:

3.2 × 10^-11 m

The correct answer is:

• 3.2 × 10^{-11} m