Car catalytic converters use platinum as a catalyst. Platinum is rare and very expensive. Manufacturers now coat the inside of the converter with platinum nanoparticles.
A scientist compares a single cube of platinum with sides of 1.0 cm with the same volume of platinum divided into cubes with sides of 10 nm.
1 nm = 1 × 10-9 m
Calculate the surface area of the single 1.0 cm cube in m2\mathrm{m^{2}}m2.
Calculate the number of cubes with sides of 10 nm that could be made from the 1.0 cm cube. Give your answer in standard form.
Calculate the total surface area of all the 10 nm cubes in m2\mathrm{m^{2}}m2.
Calculate how many times larger the total surface area of the nanocubes is than the surface area of the single cube.
Explain why using platinum nanoparticles makes the catalytic converter both effective and cheaper to make.
36 exam-style questions on Edexcel GCSE Chemistry 10.5 Bulk and surface properties of matter including nanoparticles, covering 10.5.1 Nanoparticles: size, uses and risks and 10.5.2 Comparing and selecting materials. Each one has a worked solution and a mark scheme showing where the marks go.