The white blood cell concentration in normal blood is approximately 12,000 cells/mm^2 of blood. How many white blood cells does a normal adult with 5 L of blood have? Express the answer in scientific notation.

Verified step by step guidance

1. Convert the volume of blood from liters to cubic millimeters. Since 1 liter is equal to 1,000,000 cubic millimeters, multiply 5 liters by 1,000,000 to get the volume in cubic millimeters.
2. Use the given concentration of white blood cells, which is 12,000 cells/mm^2, to find the total number of white blood cells. Multiply the concentration by the total volume of blood in cubic millimeters.
3. Express the result from the multiplication in scientific notation. This involves writing the number as a product of a number between 1 and 10 and a power of 10.
4. Check the units to ensure they are consistent and correct throughout the calculation.
5. Review the steps to ensure that the conversion and multiplication were done correctly, and that the final answer is properly expressed in scientific notation.

Key Concepts

Cell Concentration

Cell concentration refers to the number of cells present in a specific volume of fluid, often expressed in units like cells/mm² or cells/L. In this context, the concentration of white blood cells is given as 12,000 cells/mm², which indicates how many white blood cells are found in a cubic millimeter of blood.

Volume Conversion

Understanding volume conversion is essential for solving the problem, as the total blood volume of an adult is given in liters (5 L). To calculate the total number of white blood cells, one must convert liters to cubic millimeters, knowing that 1 L equals 1,000,000 mm³. This conversion allows for accurate calculations based on the provided concentration.

Scientific Notation

Scientific notation is a method of expressing large numbers in a compact form, typically as a product of a number between 1 and 10 and a power of ten. This format is particularly useful in scientific contexts to simplify calculations and clearly present results, especially when dealing with large quantities like the total number of white blood cells in the bloodstream.