Question

If a concentration of 10 fluorescent molecules per μm2of cell membrane is needed to visualize a cell under the microscope, how many molecules of dye would be needed to visualize a single egg? Enter your answer in scientific notation rounded to two significant figures.

Answer 1

Answer : 78500 molecules of dye would be needed to visualize a single egg.

Explanation : An single egg cell has an diameter of 100 μm which is an approximate value.

To calculate the area of the cell membrane we can use this formula.

A = π $(100)^{2} / 4$;

Therefore, A = 3.14 X $(100)^{2} / 4$

So, A =  7850 μ$m^{2}$

Now. to calculate the amount of dye molecules needed for 10 fluorescent molecules / μ$m^{2}$

will be;

as 1 μ$m^{2}$ = 7850 μ$m^{2}$ dye molecules.

Then 10 fluorescent molecules will need;

7850 X 10 = 78500 molecules of dye.

Therefore, the answer is 78500 molecules of dye.