Answer: -
The approximate number of atoms in a bacterium is 10¹¹
Explanation: -
We are given the mass of a bacterium is 10⁻¹⁵ kg.
We are told that the mass of a hydrogen atom is 10⁻²⁷ kg.
Finally we learn that the average mass of an atom of the bacterium is ten times the mass of a hydrogen atom.
Mass of an atom of bacterium = 10 x mass of hydrogen atom
= 10 x 10⁻²⁷ kg.
= 10⁻²⁶ kg.
Thus the number of atoms in a bacterium = [tex]\frac{Total mass}{mass of 1 bacterium atom}[/tex]
= [tex]\frac{10-15 kg}{10-26 kg}[/tex]
= 10¹¹
