Calculate average spacing of molecules

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SUMMARY

The discussion focuses on calculating the average separation between molecules in liquid chloroform (CHCl3) with a molar mass of 119 g/mol and a density of 1.48 g/cm³. The user has determined that there are approximately 7.487 x 10²¹ molecules per cm³, leading to a volume of 133.6 ų per molecule. The concept of separation refers to the distance between the centers of adjacent molecules, which can be derived from the cubic packing arrangement of the molecules.

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Homework Statement



CHCl3 has M= 119 gmol^-1, density (rho) = 1.48 gcm^-3
Find the average separation between molecules in the liquid assuming a simple cubic packing


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The Attempt at a Solution




I have found that there are 7.487x10^21 molecules cm^-3. Each molecule "occupies" a box of 133.6 Å^3. Now what should I do? I don't properly understand what they mean by separation.
 
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Hi helpmeplease1,

I believe by separation they mean the distance between nearest neighbors. If you think of the molecules as being in the center of the cubical box (whose volume you found), what's the distance between the center of two adjacent boxes?
 

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