Question

the mass of a hydrogen atom is about 1.67e - 24 grams. the mass of a plutonium atom is about 4.05e - 22 grams. how many times more grams is an atom of plutonium than an atom of hydrogen?

a. 2.43×10³

b. 2.43×10³

c. 2.43×10²

d. 2.43×10²

Explanation:

Step1: Write numbers in scientific - notation

The mass of a hydrogen atom $m_h = 1.67\times10^{- 24}$ grams and the mass of a plutonium atom $m_p=4.05\times10^{-22}$ grams.

Step2: Calculate the ratio

To find out how many times the mass of a plutonium atom is greater than that of a hydrogen atom, we calculate the ratio $\frac{m_p}{m_h}=\frac{4.05\times10^{-22}}{1.67\times10^{-24}}$.
Using the rule of exponents $\frac{a\times10^m}{b\times10^n}=\frac{a}{b}\times10^{m - n}$, we have $\frac{4.05}{1.67}\times10^{-22-(-24)}=\frac{4.05}{1.67}\times10^{-22 + 24}$.
$\frac{4.05}{1.67}\approx2.43$ and $10^{-22 + 24}=10^{2}$.
So the ratio is approximately $2.43\times10^{2}$.

Answer:

C. $2.43\times10^{2}$