MEASUREMENT

INTENDED LEARNING OUTCOMES

The students should be able to:
Use dimensional analysis in conversion of
units
Solve problems related to temperature,
mass, volume and density
MEASUREMENT
Measurement is a collection of
quantitative or numerical data that
describes a property of an object or event.
It is made by comparing a quantity with a
standard unit.
Measurements inherently include error,
which is how much a measured value
deviates from the true value.
NUMBERS AND MEASUREMENTS IN
CHEMISTRY
quantify data, expressing collected data
with units and significant figures.

⚫ Units - designate the type of quantity

measured.

⚫ Prefixes - provide scale to a base unit.

⚫ Significant Figures - indicate the

amount of information that is reliable
when discussing a measurement.
UNITS
The base unit designates the type of
quantity being measured.

SI units (from French Système

International) are the base units of
science.

Some units comprise combinations of

these base units and are termed derived
units
⚫ 1 J = 1 kg m2 s-2
PREFIXES
Prefixes are used with base units to report
and understand quantities of any size.
Prefixes are based on multiples of 10.
SIGNIFICANT FIGURES
All digits reported are considered significant except
for certain types of zeros.
⚫ When a zero establishes the decimal place, it is not
significant.
51,300 m (3 significant figures)
0.043 g (2 significant figures)

⚫ A zero is significant when it follows a decimal point

or when it occurs between other significant figures.
4.30 mL (3 significant figures)
304.2 kg (4 significant figures)

⚫ All numbers are significant when written in correct

scientific notation.
SIGNIFICANT FIGURES
For calculated values, the number of significant figures
should be consistent with the data used in the calculation.

⚫ For multiplication and division, the number of

significant figures in a result must be the same as the
number of significant figures in the factor with the
fewest significant figures.

⚫ For addition and subtraction, the number of significant

figures are determined from the position of the first
uncertain digit.
SIGNIFICANT FIGURES
SIGNIFICANT FIGURES
When counting discrete objects, the result has no
ambiguity. Such measurements use exact
numbers. They have infinite significant figures.

⚫ two pennies would be 2.000000…

Exactly defined terms, such as metric prefixes,

are also considered exact numbers.
SCIENTIFIC NOTATION

Scientific notation is used to easily write

very small and very large numbers.

Factor out powers of ten

PROBLEM SOLVING IN CHEMISTRY
AND ENGINEERING
There are several categories of problems:

⚫ Calculations involving ratios

⚫ Conceptual understanding of
particulate level

⚫ Visualization of phenomena on different

levels
DIMENSIONAL ANALYSIS
also known as factor label method
uses a Conversion Factor- a fraction whose
numerator and denominator are the same quantity
expressed in different units

Given quantity x conversion factor = desired quantity

given unit x desired unit = desired unit

given unit
 EXAMPLE PROBLEMS
Convert the following:
1.57.8 m to cm

57.8 m x 100 cm = 5,780 cm

1. 1m
2.0.250 kg to g

0.250 kg x 1000 g = 250 g

1 kg
3. 500 mL to L
500 mL x 1L_____ = 0.5 L
1000 mL
4. 2.5 ft to cm
2.5 ft x 12 in x 2.54 cm = 76.2 cm
1 ft 1 in

5. 350.0 lb to g_
in3 cm3
350. lb x 453.59g x (1 in)3____ =
in3 1 lb (2.54 cm)3
LENGTH
a measured dimension which can be
expressed in meter or feet (English unit).
One can call length as the first dimension
or 1D.

Example 1:
Convert 2 miles to kilometer.
Solution:
2mi x 1.609km = 3.218km
1 mi
 Example 2:
How many cm are there 2.5 mi?
Solution:
2.5mi (1.609km)(1000m)(100cm)=402,250 cm
1mi 1km 1m
AREA
Area is a physical quantity that
expresses the extent of
two-dimensional figures.
The units of area are derived from
units of length.
As a two-dimensional quantity it
accounts the product of two lengths.
 What is the area of a rectangular
field with a length of 5 meters and
width of 12 meters?
Solution:
Area of a rectangle= length⋅width
Area of a rectangle = (5m)(12m)=60m2
PHYSICAL PROPERTIES COMMOLY
MEASURED IN CHEMISTRY
MASS
VOLUME
TEMPERATURE
DENSITY
VOLUME
Volume is length (m) cubed
Units for volume
solid samples m3
1cm3 = 1 x 10-6 m3
1dm3 = 1 x 10-3 m3
REGULAR SOLID
WATER DISPLACEMENT METHOD
Normally used to get the volume of an
irregular solid
Volume is a measure of the amount of
space an object takes up. When a cylinder
is submerged in the water it pushes water
out of the way. If you measure the amount
the water level increases, you can find the
volume of the water pushed out of the
way.
CALCULATION OF VOLUME
OF IRREGULAR SOLID
VOLUME
Liquid samples 1L = 1000 mL
= 1000 cm3
= 1 dm3
1cc = 1cm3 = 1mL

Gas samples L or mL
MASS
Mass is the measure of quantity of
matter contained in an object
Mass of an object can be measured
readily with a balance, is the
process called weighing
Mass is different from weight
Weight is the force that gravity
exerts on an object
MASS
SI units: g, kg
English units: lb, oz

1 kg = 1000 g
1 tonne = 1000 kg
1 lb = 453.59 g
1 lb = 16 oz
 A piece of iron metal has a mass of 2435.5
g. Express the mass in the following units:
a. kg

2435.5 g x 1kg_____ =
1000 g

b. lb
2435.5 g x 1lb______ =
453.59 g
DENSITY
defined in a qualitative manner as the
measure of the relative "heaviness" of
objects with a constant volume.

a physical property of matter, as each

element and compound has a unique
density associated with it.
Temperature- and compound-specific
DENSITY
ratio of an object’s mass to its volume

ρ(rho) used to symbolize density

ρ=m/v

⚫ Allows conversion between mass and

volume.

⚫ Units:
Solid: g/cm3
Liquid: g/mL
Gas: g/L
EXAMPLE PROBLEMS
A piece of gold with a mass of 301g has a
volume of 15.6 cm3. Calculate the density
of gold.
ρ = 301 g/ 15.6 cm3
ρ = 19.3 g/ cm3
A piece of platinum metal with a density of
21.5 g/ cm3 has a volume of 4.49 cm3.
What is its mass?
m = ρ x v = (21.5g/ cm3 ) (4.49 cm3)
m = 96.5 g
Calculate the volume of liquid which
has a density of 0.94 g/mL and a
mass of 26.4g.
v = m/ ρ = 26.4 g / 0.94 g/mL
v = 28 mL
EXAMPLE PROBLEM
In the determination of the density of a
rectangular metal bar, a student made the
following measurements: length 8.53 cm;
width 2.4 cm; height 1.0 cm, mass
52.7064g. Calculate the density of the
metal bar.
SOLUTION

v = length x width x height

ρ = _____52.7064g_________
(8.53 cm)(2.4 cm)(1.0cm)

ρ = 2.6 g/cm3
A silver object with a mass of 194.3g is placed in
a graduated cylinder containing 242.0 mL water.
The volume of water with the object now reads
260.5 mL. Determine the density of the silver
object.
water with object 260.5 mL
water only - 242.0 mL
volume of object 18.5 mL

ρ = 194.3 g
18.5 mL
ρ = 10.5 g/mL
PROBLEMS RELATED TO DENSITY
The density of water at 25ºC is 0.997 g per mL. A
child’s swimming pool holds 346 L of water at
this temperature. What mass of water is in the
pool?
TEMPERATURE
hotness or coldness of an object
measure of average kinetic energy of the
matter/system
Property of the body which determines the
flow of heat
It is the measure of intensity or how
energetic each particles of the sample is
TEMPERATURE SCALES
Systems for measuring temperature, defined by
choosing two reference points and setting a fixed
number of degrees between them
Common temperature scales include:
Fahrenheit
Celsius
Kelvin
 Celsius
This temperature scale was developed
by Swedish astronomer Andres
Celsius in 1742
• 0°C represents the freezing point of
water
• 100°C represents the boiling point of
water
 Fahrenheit
• This temperature scale was proposed
by physicist Daniel Gabriel
Fahrenheit in 1724
• 32°F represents the freezing point of
water
• 212°F represents the boiling point of
water
 Kelvin
• This temperature scale was developed by
Belfast-born British inventor and scientist
William Thomson — also known as Lord
Kelvin in 1848
• 273.15 K represents the freezing point of
water
• 373.15 K represents the boiling point of
water
KELVIN SCALE
The absolute temperature scale
Based on the idea of absolute zero, the theoretical
temperature at which all molecular motion stops
and no discernable energy can be tested
Absolute zero is defined as 0 K on Kelvin scale,
which is a thermodynamic (absolute)
temperature scale and the coldest temperature
theoretically possible
No negative numbers on the Kelvin scale, thus it
is convenient to use when measuring extremely
low temperatures in scientific research
TEMPERATURE

Temperature is measured using the Fahrenheit,

Celsius, and Kelvin (absolute) temperature scales.
TEMPERATURE SCALE
CONVERSION

o
F = [(9/5) oC] + 32

o
C = 5/9 x (oF-32)
TEMPERATURE SCALE
CONVERSION
PROBLEMS RELATED TO TEMPERATURE

Helium has the lowest boiling point of all the

elements at -452 oF. Convert this temperature to
o
C and K

o
C= 5/9(-452 oF - 32)
= -268.9 oC

K = -268.9 oC + 273.15
K = 4.26K
Mercury, the only metal that exists
as liquid at room temperature, melts
at -38.9 oC. Convert the melting
point to oF to K.
o
F = 9/5(-38.9 oC) + 32
= -38.02 oF

K = -38.9 oC + 273.15
= 234.25 K
Solder is an alloy made of tin and lead that is used in
electronic circuit. It has a melting point of 224 oC.
What is the melting point in oF and K.
RANKINE (OR)
- Absolute temperature scale that uses
Fahrenheit degrees and starts at absolute
zero.

o
R = oF + 459.67

Example:
The typical room temperature is 68oF.
Convert this temperature to Rankine.
o
R = 68oF + 459.67 = 527.67 oR
ACCURACY AND PRECISION
⚫ Accuracy - how close the observed
value is to the “true” value.

⚫ Precision - the spread in values

obtained from measurements; the
reproducibility of values.
ACCURACY AND PRECISION
ACCURACY PRECISION

correctness reproducibility
Check by using different Check by repeating
method measurements
Poor accuracy results Poor precision results
from procedural or from poor techniques
equipment flaws
MEASUREMENTS
Measurements can
have poor precision
and poor accuracy.

Darts are
scattered
evenly across
the board.
MEASUREMENTS
Measurements can have
good precision and poor
accuracy.

Darts are clustered

together.

But darts are clustered

far from the bulls-eye.
MEASUREMENTS
Measurements can
have good precision
and good accuracy.

Darts are clustered

together, and

darts are clustered

close to or on the
bulls-eye.
RESULTS OF MEASUREMENTS

Trial Group Group Group

A B C
1 99.99g 95.50g 97.50g
2 99.98g 95.60g 95.50g
3 99.99g 95.55g 96.50g
Average 99.99g 95.55g 96.50g
ERROR IN MEASUREMENTS
Measurements contain one of two types of errors:

⚫ Random Error - may make a

measurement randomly too high or too
low. (e.g., variation associated with
equipment limitations)

⚫ Systematic Error - may make a

measurement consistently too high or
too low. (e.g., the presence of an
impurity)
REFERENCES
Brown,B.S, Holme,T.A,(2012) Chemistry for
Engineering Students, 2ed: Cengage Learning
Asia Pte Ltd
Chang, R. (2010). Chemistry. Boston:
McGraw-Hill Higher Education.
Masterton,W.L, et al (2018) Principles and
Reactions: Chemistry for Engineering Students,
Cengage Learning
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