The $\alpha$ form of polonium (Po) has a density of 9.196 g/cm³ and crystallizes in a simple cubic structure.What is the atomic radius of polonium?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

In a simple cubic structure, the edge length (a) is equal to twice the atomic radius (r). The volume of the unit cell is $a^3$, and since there is one atom per unit cell, the density formula is $\rho = \frac{m}{a^3}$, where $m$ is the mass of one atom. Solving for $a$ using the given density and converting to pm gives the atomic radius as 168 pm.

The α\alphaα Form of Polonium (Po) Has a Density of 9

The $\alpha$ Form of Polonium (Po) Has a Density of 9