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Chemistry Forums for Students => High School Chemistry Forum => Topic started by: Gosseyn on March 15, 2009, 05:54:04 PM

Title: Helium atomic radius
Post by: Gosseyn on March 15, 2009, 05:54:04 PM

I saw this in a table in an article.  Atomic radius of the helium atom: 31000 10-15m.  Would that translate to .000000000031000?  What does the m symbol mean?

Title: Re: Helium atomic radius
Post by: Borek on March 15, 2009, 06:08:22 PM

m usually means meter.

Title: Re: Helium atomic radius
Post by: Gosseyn on March 15, 2009, 06:15:46 PM

Quote from: Borek on March 15, 2009, 06:08:22 PM

m usually means meter.

Actually the heading of the column said radius of an atom @10-15m, and under it were various elments, and the helium figure was 31000. I think hydrogen was 53000.  And so on.  Does that make any difference?

Title: Re: Helium atomic radius
Post by: Arkcon on March 15, 2009, 07:58:50 PM

Quote from: Gosseyn on March 15, 2009, 06:15:46 PM

Actually the heading of the column said radius of an atom @10-15m, and under it were various elments, and the helium figure was 31000. I think hydrogen was 53000.  And so on.  Does that make any difference?

It still means meter, yes.  It definitely means there is a difference between the two, however.