Ch.2 - Atoms, Molecules, and Ions

Brown - Chemistry: The Central Science 14th Edition

Brown14th EditionChemistry: The Central ScienceISBN: 9780134414232Not the one you use?Change textbook

Brown 14th Edition

Ch.2 - Atoms, Molecules, and Ions

Problem 22a

Chapter 2, Problem 22a

Determine whether each of the following statements is true or false. If false, correct the statement to make it true: (a) The nucleus has most of the mass and comprises most of the volume of an atom.

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The nucleus of an atom contains protons and neutrons, which account for most of the atom's mass.

The volume of an atom is mostly empty space, with electrons occupying this space in electron clouds.

The nucleus is very small compared to the overall size of the atom, meaning it does not comprise most of the atom's volume.

Therefore, the statement is false. The nucleus has most of the mass but comprises very little of the volume of an atom.

Corrected statement: The nucleus has most of the mass but comprises very little of the volume of an atom.

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Key Concepts

Here are the essential concepts you must grasp in order to answer the question correctly.

Atomic Structure

Atoms consist of a nucleus, which contains protons and neutrons, and is surrounded by electrons in orbitals. The nucleus is dense and contains most of the atom's mass, while the electron cloud occupies most of the atom's volume, making it largely empty space.

Mass vs. Volume in Atoms

While the nucleus accounts for the majority of an atom's mass due to the presence of protons and neutrons, it occupies a very small volume compared to the overall size of the atom. The electron cloud, which is much larger in volume, contributes negligibly to the mass.

True/False Statements in Science

In scientific inquiry, evaluating statements as true or false requires understanding the underlying principles. A false statement can often be corrected by identifying the inaccuracies and providing the correct information based on established scientific knowledge.

Related Practice

Textbook Question

Determine whether each of the following statements is true or false. If false, correct the statement to make it true: (b) Every atom of a given element has the same number of protons.

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Textbook Question

Determine whether each of the following statements is true or false. If false, correct the statement to make it true: (c) The number of electrons in an atom equals the number of neutrons in the atom.

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Textbook Question

Millikan determined the charge on the electron by studying the static charges on oil drops falling in an electric field (Figure 2.5). A student carried out this experiment using several oil drops for her measurements and calculated the charges on the drops. She obtained the following data: Droplet Calculated Charge (C) A 1.60 * 10-19 B 3.15 * 10-19 C 4.81 * 10-19 D 6.31 * 10-19 (c) What value (and to how many significant figures) should she report for the electronic charge?

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Textbook Question

The radius of an atom of copper (Cu) is about 140 pm. (a) Express this distance in angstroms 1A 2.

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Textbook Question

The radius of an atom of copper (Cu) is about 140 pm. (b) How many Cu atoms would have to be placed side by side to span a distance of 5.0 mm?

Textbook Question

Determine whether each of the following statements is true or false. If false, correct the statement to make it true: (d) The protons in the nucleus of the helium atom are held together by a force called the strong nuclear force.

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