`X`-rays diffraction studies show that copper crystallizes in an fcc unit cell with cell edge of `3.608 xx 10^(-8) cm`. In a separte experiment, copper is determined to have a density of `8.92 g cm^(3)`. Calculate the atomic mass of copper.

Explanation

` P = (Z xx M)/(a^(3) xx N_(0)) or M = ( p xx a^(3) xx N_(0))/Z`
for fcc lattice , Z= 4.
Hence , ` M = (( 8.92 " g cm" ^(-3)) ( 3.608 xx 10^(-8) cm) ^(3) ( 6.022 xx 10^(23) " atoms mol"^(-1))) = 63.1 " g mol ^(-1)`
Atomic mass of copper = `63.1 "g mol"^(-1)`