The density of a metal is 11.4 g/cm3. How much volume (in cm3) would a sample of 30.5 g have?

The Concept:

We are given the density of a sample of the metal = 11.4 grams / cm³

and we need to find the volume occupied by a sample of 30.5 grams

For this solution, we will use dimensional analysis

from the given information, we can also say that the density of the metal is:

1 cm³ / 11.4 grams

If we multiply this value by 30.5 grams, the 'grams' in the numerator and the denominator will cancel out and we will be left with the volume occupied by 30.5 grams of the metal

Solving for the volume:

 X  30.5 grams  = (30.5 / 11.4) cm³

Volume of 30.5 grams of the sample = 2.68 cm³

explanation:

metals have excess of electrons whereas non-metals have deficiency of electrons. thus, in order to gain stability metals easily donate their electrons to the non-metals.

for example, electronic configuration of sodium is and electronic configuration of phosphorous is .

when a phosphorous atom and sodium atom combine together then sodium will donate is extra one electron to the phosphorous atom. as a result there will be formation of ionic bond between sodium and phosphorous.

the reaction will be as follows.

there, are three sodium sodium atoms and each of them will donate its one extra electron to phosphorous atom. thus, the sub-shell of phosphorous gets completely filled.  

thus, we can conclude that electrons are transferred from atoms of sodium to atoms of phosphorous. this transfer makes the sodium atoms donate one electron and the phosphorous atoms to gain one electron. as a result, the sodium and phosphorus atoms strongly attract each other.