Ch.2 - Atoms, Molecules, and Ions

Brown - Chemistry: The Central Science 15th Edition

Brown15th EditionChemistry: The Central ScienceISBN: 9780137542970Not the one you use?Change textbook

Brown 15th Edition

Ch.2 - Atoms, Molecules, and Ions

Problem 93d

Chapter 2, Problem 93d

Suppose a scientist repeats the Millikan oil-drop experiment but reports the charges on the drops using an unusual (and imaginary) unit called the warmomb (wa). The scientist obtains the following data for four of the drops: Droplet Calculated Charge (wa) A 3.84⨉10⁻⁸ B 4.80⨉10⁻⁸ C 2.88⨉10⁻⁸ D 8.64⨉10⁻⁸ (d) What is the conversion factor between warmombs and coulombs?

Verified step by step guidance

Identify the smallest charge difference between the droplets.

Assume this smallest charge difference represents the fundamental charge unit in warmombs.

Recall that the fundamental charge in coulombs is approximately 1.60 \(\times\) 10^{-19} C.

Set up a ratio between the fundamental charge in warmombs and the fundamental charge in coulombs.

Solve for the conversion factor by dividing the fundamental charge in warmombs by the fundamental charge in coulombs.

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Key Concepts

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

Millikan Oil-Drop Experiment

The Millikan oil-drop experiment was a groundbreaking experiment conducted by Robert Millikan in 1909 to measure the charge of the electron. By balancing the gravitational and electric forces on tiny oil droplets, Millikan was able to determine that the charge of an electron is approximately -1.6 x 10^-19 coulombs. This experiment provided crucial evidence for the quantization of electric charge and established the fundamental unit of charge in physics.

Unit Conversion

Unit conversion is the process of converting a quantity expressed in one unit to another unit. In this context, it involves finding the relationship between the imaginary unit 'warmomb' and the standard unit 'coulomb.' Understanding how to convert between units is essential in scientific calculations, as it allows for consistent and accurate comparisons of measurements across different systems.

Quantization of Charge

The quantization of charge refers to the principle that electric charge exists in discrete amounts, specifically as integer multiples of the elementary charge (the charge of an electron). This concept implies that charges cannot take on arbitrary values but are instead quantized in units of e (approximately 1.6 x 10^-19 coulombs). In the context of the experiment, the charges measured in warmombs should also reflect this quantization, allowing for the determination of a conversion factor to coulombs.

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Related Practice

Textbook Question

All the structures shown here have the molecular formula C₈H₁₈. Which structures are the same molecule? (Hint: One way to answer this question is to determine the chemical name for each structure.)

Textbook Question

Identify the element represented by each of the following symbols and give the number of protons and neutrons in each: (a) ⁷⁴₃₃X

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Textbook Question

Suppose a scientist repeats the Millikan oil-drop experiment but reports the charges on the drops using an unusual (and imaginary) unit called the warmomb (wa). The scientist obtains the following data for four of the drops: Droplet Calculated Charge (wa) A 3.84⨉10⁻⁸ B 4.80⨉10⁻⁸ C 2.88⨉10⁻⁸ D 8.64⨉10⁻⁸ (b) From these data, what is the best choice for the charge of the electron in warmombs?

The natural abundance of ³He is 0.000137%. (a) How many protons, neutrons, and electrons are in an atom of ³He?

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Textbook Question

The natural abundance of ³He is 0.000137%. (b) Based on the sum of the masses of their subatomic particles, which is expected to be more massive, an atom of ³He or an atom of ³H (which is also called tritium)?

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Textbook Question

Suppose a scientist repeats the Millikan oil-drop experiment but reports the charges on the drops using an unusual (and imaginary) unit called the warmomb (wa). The scientist obtains the following data for four of the drops: Droplet Calculated Charge (wa) A 3.84⨉10⁻⁸ B 4.80⨉10⁻⁸ C 2.88⨉10⁻⁸ D 8.64⨉10⁻⁸ (c) Based on your answer to part (b), how many electrons are there on each of the droplets?

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