High School

Select the correct answer.

The atomic mass of potassium is 39.1. What is the mass of [tex]$6.02 \times 10^{23}$[/tex] atoms of potassium?

A. [tex]39.1 \, \text{mg}[/tex]

B. [tex]39.1 \, \text{g}[/tex]

C. [tex]39.1 \, \text{kg}[/tex]

D. [tex]6.02 \times 39.1 \, \text{mg}[/tex]

E. [tex]6.02 \times 39.1 \, \text{g}[/tex]

Answer :

To determine the mass of [tex]\(6.02 \times 10^{23}\)[/tex] atoms of potassium, we need to use the concept of moles and atomic mass:

1. Understanding Moles and Atomic Mass:
- The atomic mass of potassium is given as 39.1 grams per mole. This means one mole of potassium, which contains Avogadro's number of atoms ([tex]\(6.02 \times 10^{23}\)[/tex] atoms), has a mass of 39.1 grams.

2. Identify Avogadro's Number:
- Avogadro's number is [tex]\(6.02 \times 10^{23}\)[/tex] atoms per mole. This is a constant that expresses the number of atoms contained in one mole of any substance.

3. Calculate the Mass:
- Since [tex]\(6.02 \times 10^{23}\)[/tex] atoms corresponds to one mole of potassium, and the molar mass of potassium is 39.1 grams per mole, the mass of [tex]\(6.02 \times 10^{23}\)[/tex] atoms of potassium is exactly the same as the atomic mass expressed in grams.

Therefore, the mass of [tex]\(6.02 \times 10^{23}\)[/tex] atoms of potassium is [tex]\(\boxed{39.1 \, \text{g}}\)[/tex].

So, the correct answer is B. [tex]\(39.1 \, \text{g}\)[/tex].