The $\alpha$ form of polonium (Po)crystallizes as a simple cubic unit cell with an edge length of 335 pm.What is the atomic radius of polonium?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

In a simple cubic unit cell, the atoms are located at the corners of the cube, and each atom is shared equally by eight unit cells.

The edge length (a) of the cube is equal to twice the atomic radius (r):

a = 2r

r = a/2 = 335 pm / 2 = 167.5 pm ≈ 168 pm.

Therefore, the best choice is B.

The α\alphaα Form of Polonium (Po)crystallizes as a Simple Cubic Unit Cell