The size of an atom is extremely small, much smaller than our imagination. A layer of an atom as thick as a thin sheet of paper is formed when more than millions of atoms are stacked together. It is impossible to measure the size of an isolated atom because it’s difficult to locate the positions of electrons surrounding the nucleus.
However, the size of an atom can be estimated by assuming that the distance between adjacent atoms is equal to half the radius of an atom. Atomic radius is generally measured in nano metres.
1 m =
10 9 n m
Relative Sizes
| Examples | Radii (m) |
| Atom of Hydrogen | 10−10m |
| Molecule of water | 10−9m |
| Molecule of hemoglobin | 10−8m |
| Grain of Sand | 10−4m |
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