How would you describe the range of the radii of most atoms in nanometers (nm)?

2 Answers
anor277
Jan 21, 2017

Probably off by ONE or TWO orders of magnitude.

Explanation:

The hydrogen atom has a radius of #5.3xx10^(-11)*m#

See this site for data.

Truong-Son N.
Jan 21, 2017

Well, I know that atomic radii are in general on the order of #0.500 - 2.00# #Å# or so, which corresponds to #50 - 200# #"pm"# or so. For instance, the atomic radius of scandium is about #"160 pm"#.

In terms of #"nm"#, then, you should get a typical approximate ATOMIC radius of:

#100 cancel"pm" xx cancel"1 m"/(10^12 cancel"pm") xx (10^9 "nm")/cancel("1 m")#

#=# #"0.100 nm"#

Thus, a typical range of ATOMIC radii would be #color(blue)(0.050 - 0.200)# #color(blue)("nm")# or so.

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