If unit mass of a solid, taken as a cube of volume 8 cm³, is powdered into identical 10¹² cubes, the — Surface Chemistry Chemistry Question

💡 Solution & Explanation

Initial volume of cube = 8 cm³, so side length a = 2 cm. Initial surface area = 6a² = 24 cm². When divided into 10¹² cubes, volume of one small cube = 8/10¹² cm³, so its side a' = 2/10⁴ cm. Surface area of one small cube = 6(a')² = 6 × (4/10⁸) cm². Total new surface area = 10¹² × 24/10⁸ = 24 × 10⁴ cm². The surface area increases by a factor of (24 × 10⁴) / 24 = 10⁴. Therefore, correct answer is B.