Chapter 1
Matter,
Measurement,
and Problem
Solving
Chemistry – The Central Science
Study the chemical behavior of atoms,
molecules, and ions
Examples:
- Studying DNA molecules
- quantifying insecticide in drinking water
- comparing the protein content of foods
- developing a new antibiotic
- analyzing rocks
- design a synthetic fiber
- obtain a life-saving drug
Chemistry allows you to understand why leafs turns red, or why a
diamond is hard, or why soap gets us clean.
Chemistry – What is it?
• Chemistry - the study of matter and how it changes
• Microscopic explanations for macroscopic phenomena:
Macroscopic Microscopic
Building molecules from building blocks?
Chemistry – What is it?
• Chemistry - the study of matter and how it changes
• Microscopic explanations for macroscopic phenomena:
Physical vs Chemical Changes in Matter
FIGURE 1.1 •Boiling, is a Physical Change and Rusting is a Chemical Change
Common Physical Changes
• Processes that cause Dissolving
Sublimingof
ofsugar
dry ice
changes in the matter that C H O (s)
12 22 11
do not change its CO2(g)
composition
• State changes
Dry Ice
→ boiling / condensing
→ melting / freezing
→ subliming
CO2(s)
• Dissolving C12H22O11(aq)
Common Chemical Changes
• Processes that cause changes
in the matter that change its
composition
• Rusting
• Burning
• Dyes fading or changing
color
C3H8(g) + 5 O2(g) → 3 CO2(g) + 4 H2O(l)
Working with Numbers!
• Chemistry is a quantitative science
→ Requires that you’re comfortable working with
numbers
• To be reviewed:
→ SI units and their prefixes
→ Conversion factors
→ Significant figures
SI Units
All other “SI” units are derived from the 7 basic SI units
→ Energy: 1 kg m2/s2 = 1 joule (J)
→ Volume: 1 dm3 = 1 liter (L)
→ Pressure: kg/ms2 = 1 Pascal (Pa)
→ Density: kg/m3
Prefixes
Derived Units - Volume
Volume = (length)(width)(height)
V = l3
= (10 cm)3
= 1000 cm3
FIGURE 1.13 •The Relationship between Length and Volume
Derived Units - Density
m
δ=
V
g mL-1
g cm-3
m
δxV = m V=
δ
Standardized Units are Important!
• On Sept. 23, 1999, the $125M Mars Climate Orbiter
entered Mars’s atmosphere 100 km (62 miles) lower than
planned, and it was destroyed by heat.
• Commonly use centimeters
(cm)
1 m = 100 cm
1 cm = 0.01 m = 10 mm
1 inch = 2.54 cm (exactly)
Mass
• Measure of the amount of matter present in an
object
→ weight measures the gravitational pull on an object,
which depends on its mass
• SI unit = kilogram (kg)
→ about 2 lbs. 3 oz.
• Commonly measure mass in grams (g) or
milligrams (mg)
→ 1 kg = 2.2046 pounds, 1 lb. = 453.59 g
→ 1 kg = 1000 g = 103 g
→ 1 g = 1000 mg = 103 mg
→ 1 g = 0.001 kg = 10−3 kg
→ 1 mg = 0.001 g = 10−3 g
Time
• Measure of the duration of an event
• SI units = second (s)
• 1 s is defined as the period of time it takes for a
specific number of radiation events of a specific
transition from cesium–133
Temperature
• Measure of the average amount of kinetic energy caused
by motion of the particles
→ higher temperature = larger average kinetic energy
• Heat flows from the matter that has high thermal energy
into matter that has low thermal energy until they reach
the same temperature
→ heat flows from hot object to cold
→ heat is exchanged through molecular collisions between the
two materials
(° F − 32)
°C =
1.8
K = °C + 273.15
Temperature Scales
Fahrenheit scale, °F
used in the U.S.
Celsius scale, °C
used in all other countries
Kelvin scale, K
• absolute scale
• no negative numbers
• directly proportional to average
amount of kinetic energy
• 0 K = absolute zero
Weight Estimates
FIGURE
Counting Significant Figures
1. All nonzero digits are significant. 28.03 0.0540
2. Interior zeros are significant. 408 7.0301
3. Leading zeros are not significant. 0.0032 0.00006
4. Trailing zeros are sometimes significant:
1. after a decimal point are significant 45.000 3.5600
2. before a decimal point are significant 140.00 2500.55
3. before an implied decimal point are ambiguous and scientific notation
should be used.
1200 1.2 x 103 1.20 x 103 1.200 x 103
ambiguous 2 sig figs 3 sig figs 4 sig figs
Review Exact Numbers and Significant Figures in Calculations in text.
Precision and Accuracy
Consider 3 students who weighed a block known to
have a true mass of 10.00 g.
Learning Objectives
• Distinguish between physical and chemical changes
• Work comfortably with SI units
• Report calculations with an appropriate number of
significant figures