An infrared wave has a wavelength of #6.5 x 10^-4# cm. What is this distance in angstroms, A?

1 Answer
Oct 31, 2016

It is a large number of #"Angstroms"#, approx #65000#.

Explanation:

The #"Angstrom"# is a non SI unit, however, it is still commonly used by chemists, because bond lengths are typically #1-2# #"Angstroms"#, and these are convenient units. Cystallographers regularly report their results in #"Angstroms"#.

#"1 Angstrom"=1xx10^-10m#

And thus,

#6.5xx10^-4cm=6.5xx10^-4cancel(cm)xx1xx10^-2*cancelm*cancel(cm^-1)xx10^10"Angstroms"*cancel(m^-1)=6.5xx10^4"Angstroms"#.