What is the mass of a single oxygen atom?

What is the mass of a single oxygen atom?

• A. 1.6735 x 10^-24 g
• B. 1.008 g
• C. 2.6561 x 10^-23 g
• D. 3.2 x 10^-23 g

Answer: (C)

The mass of a single oxygen atom is approximately 2.6561 x 10^-23 grams, which corresponds to the mass of a typical atom of oxygen in atomic mass units converted to grams. Oxygen has an atomic mass of about 16 atomic mass units (amu), and when converting amu to grams, the factor used is approximately 1 amu equals 1.66 x 10^-24 grams. So, multiplying 16 amu by this conversion factor results in a mass of about 2.6561 x 10^-23 grams for a single oxygen atom. This value aligns with accepted scientific data regarding the mass of an oxygen atom, which is crucial for calculations in chemistry and physics, particularly in understanding molecular composition and reactions. The other options either reflect incorrect conversions or reference masses of other elements or molecules, which do not apply directly to a single oxygen atom.

The mass of a single oxygen atom is approximately 2.6561 x 10^-23 grams, which corresponds to the mass of a typical atom of oxygen in atomic mass units converted to grams. Oxygen has an atomic mass of about 16 atomic mass units (amu), and when converting amu to grams, the factor used is approximately 1 amu equals 1.66 x 10^-24 grams. So, multiplying 16 amu by this conversion factor results in a mass of about 2.6561 x 10^-23 grams for a single oxygen atom.

This value aligns with accepted scientific data regarding the mass of an oxygen atom, which is crucial for calculations in chemistry and physics, particularly in understanding molecular composition and reactions. The other options either reflect incorrect conversions or reference masses of other elements or molecules, which do not apply directly to a single oxygen atom.