Tag Archives: number of atoms in a cell membrane

Problem 1-33: The number of atoms thick of a cell membrane

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PROBLEM:

Approximately how many atoms thick is a cell membrane, assuming all atoms there average about twice the size of a hydrogen atom?

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SOLUTION:

The cell membrane is 10-8 m while the hydrogen atom is 10-10  m. The number of atoms in the cell membrane is

no. of atoms=dm2dH=10−82(10−10)=50 atoms  (Answer)\begin{align*} \text{no. of atoms} & =\frac{\text{d}_{\text{m}}}{2\text{d}_{\text{H}}}\\ \\ & =\frac{10^{-8}}{2\left(10^{-10}\right)} \\ \\ & =50\:\text{atoms} \ \qquad \ \color{DarkOrange} \left( \text{Answer} \right) \end{align*}
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