Size of a Zinc Atom

By
Lee Brandt
October 12, 2015
Gus White
Max

Brandt 2

Objective:
The objective of this experiment was to determine the size of a zinc atom by
reacting the galvanized zinc with 6.0m HCl.
Procedure:
On sheet (simple enough you do not need to repeat it)
Data and Calculations:
Initial mass of washer= 9.65260g
Diameter of washer= 3.8cm
Diameter of washer whole= 1.0cm
Final mass of washer= 7.9630g
1. Mass Change Subtract the final mass from the initial mass.
9.6526g-7.9630g= 1.6896g mass change
2. Volume of Zinc Coating= Mass Change Density of Zinc
1.6896g/7.14g/cm3= .237g/cm3
where dzinc = 7.14 g/cm3
3. Area of Zinc Coating= 2 (ro 2 ri 2 )
where
ro is the outer radius of the washer;
ri is the inner radius of the washer
multiplied by two to account for both sides
2 (3.8cm 1cm)= 17.59cm2
4. Thickness of Zinc Coating (cm)= Volume of Zinc Coating Area of Zinc
Coating
.237g/cm3/17.59= .0135cm
5. Thickness of Zinc Coating (atoms)
Zinc (cm) x 1 meter/100cm x 1x1012/1m x 1atom Zn/268
.135 x 1 meter/100cm x 1x1012/1m x 1atom Zn/268= 5.04 x 106 atoms of
zinc thick
if wanting to solve for a more accurate sample, solve using height as well:
Area of Zinc Coating 2 (ro 2 ri 2 ) + 2 ro h + 2 ri h
where
ro is the outer radius of the washer;
ri is the inner radius of the washer; and,
h is the height of the washer.

Brandt 3

The volume of a single zinc atom

Given that dzinc = 7.14 g/cm3
Atomic mass of zinc= 65.39 g/mol
7.14/65.39= .1092 mol/cm3
1.092 x 6.022 x 1023= 6.576 x 1022 atoms/cm3
7.14g/cm3 / 6.576 x 1022 atoms/cm3 = 1.086 x 1022 g/atom
65.39g/mol / (7.14 g/cm3 x 6.022 x 1023) = 1.521 x 10-23 cm3
Diameter of the zinc atom is the cube root of the volume
1.521 x 1023 cm3 = 5.338 x 10-8 cm
Conclusions:
This experiment was very simple and required few steps, however many
factors contributed to the values obtained. First and foremost, the accepted
diameter for a Zinc atom is 1.39 x 10-8 which is of the same magnitude of the
experimental value, suggesting that unaccounted factors played into a
higher value. One of these values which caused experimental error in the
calculations is the acceptance that the height of the washer was negligible.
However the height of the washer was concluded to be 1mm which is a in
terms of the size of the washer posed a large experimental error. A more
accurate calculation would be to include the height as well in calculating the
thickness.
Another experimental error would also be the unevenness of the coating.
While the procedure and introduction stated that the coating was even, after
the degavanization process, there were a couple of small but visible divots in
the actual steel which could account for the higher value of diameter.
One last error to consider is whether or not the steel and zinc were pure
substances. Steel is iron with added carbon, which could be released in the
reaction, however the more contributing factor would be the purity of the
zinc. If heavier metals or contaminants were in the zinc coating, it could lead
to higher values of zinc coating both in volume, thickness. And in diameter of
the washer.
All three of these experimental errors should be taken into consideration,
however the lab was simple enough but educational enough to allow
students and others to better understand the atom and the processes
involved in calculating atoms sizes and other factors. A further investigation
in this experiment would be to look at the purity of the zinc and iron/steel
and also the investigation of other galvanized objects