You can obtain a rough estimate of the size of a molecule with the following sim

Question

You can obtain a rough estimate of the size
of a molecule with the following simple
experiment: Let a droplet of oil spread
out on a fairly large but smooth water surface.
The resulting ”oil slick” that forms on thesurface
of the water will be approximately one molecule thick.


Given an oil droplet with a mass of 7.98 ×
107 kg and a density of 935 kg/m3 that
spreads out to form a circle with a radius of
39.9 cm on the water surface, what is the
approximate diameter of an oil molecule?
Answer in units of m.

Explanation / Answer

   The oil layer must resemble the shape of acylinder, the height being equal to diameter of singlemolecule.    Volume ofcylinder   =   volume of oildrop    * r2 * d   =   m /    r   =   radiusof layer of oil   =   39.9cm   =   0.399   m    d   =   diameter ofsinglemolecule,   m   =   massof oil drop   =   7.98 *10-7kg,      =   densityof oil   =   935 kg/m3    3.14 * 0.3992 *d   =   7.89 * 10-7 /935    diameter of oilmolecule      d   =   8.438* 10-10 / 4.999 *10-1   =   1.688 *10-9   m    3.14 * 0.3992 *d   =   7.89 * 10-7 /935    diameter of oilmolecule      d   =   8.438* 10-10 / 4.999 *10-1   =   1.688 *10-9   m

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