In the HCl molecule, the separation between the nuclei of two atoms is about 1.27 A (`1 A = 10^(-10)`m). Find the approximate location of the CM. of the molecule, given that a chlorine atom is about 35.5 times as massive as a hydrogen atom and nearly all the mass of an atom is concentrated in its nucleus.

Explanation

Hydrogen atom is assumed to be at the origin
`x_(1) = 0, m _(1)=m, x_(2) = 1.27A`
`=1.27 xx 10^(-10) m`
`m_(2) = 35.5` m
The position of centre of mass
`x=(m_(1)x_(1) + m_(2)x_(2))/(m_(1) + m_(2)) = (m xx 0 + 35.5 m xx 1.27 xx 10^(-10))/(m + 35.5 m)`
`=(45.08 xx 10^(-10)m)/(36.5 m) = (45.08 xx 10^(-10))/(36.5) = (45.08 xx 10^(-10))/(36.5)`
`=1.24 xx 10^(-10)` m