99

Chapter 8
Unit Conversions

 Review Skills
8.1 Unit Analysis
 An Overview of the General Procedure
 Metric-Metric Unit Conversions
 English-Metric Unit Conversions
8.2 Rounding Off and Significant Figures
 Measurements, Calculations, and Uncertainty
 Rounding Off Answers Derived from Multiplication and Division
 Rounding Off Answers Derived from Addition and Subtraction
8.3 Density and Density Calculations
 Using Density as a Conversion Factor
 Determination of Mass Density
8.4 Percentage and Percentage Calculations
8.5 A Summary of the Unit Analysis Process
8.6 Temperature Conversions
 Chapter Glossary
Internet: Glossary Quiz
 Chapter Objectives
Review Questions
Key Ideas
Chapter Problems

Section Goals and Introductions

Be sure that you can do the things listed in the Review Skills section before you spend too
much time studying this chapter. They are especially important. You might also want to look at
Appendices A and B. Appendix A (Measurement and Units) provides tables that show units,
their abbreviations, and relationships between units that lead to conversion factors. Appendix B
(Scientific Notation) describes how to convert between regular decimal numbers and numbers
expressed in scientific notation, and it shows how calculations using scientific notation are
done.
100 Study Guide for An Introduction to Chemistry

Section 8.1 Unit Analysis

Goals
 To describe a procedure for making unit conversions called unit analysis.
 To describe metric-metric unit conversions.
 To describe English-metric unit conversions.
Many chemical calculations include the conversion from a value expressed in one unit to the
equivalent value expressed in a different unit. Unit analysis, which is described in this section,
provides you with an organized format for making these unit conversions and gives you a
logical thought process that will help you to reason through such calculations. It is extremely
important that you master this technique. You’ll be glad you have when you go on to Chapters
9 and 10, which describe chemical calculations that can be done using the unit analysis
technique.

Section 8.2 Rounding Off and Significant Figures

Goal: To describe the procedures for rounding off answers to calculations.
When you use a calculator to complete your calculations, it’s common that most of the
numbers you see on the display at the end of the calculation are meaningless. This section
describes why this is true and shows you simple techniques that you can use to round off your
answers.

Section 8.3 Density and Density Calculations

Goal: To describe what density is, how it can be used as a conversion factor, and how density
can be calculated.
Density calculations are common in chemistry. The examples in this section show you how
these calculations are done, and perhaps more important, these density calculations provide
more examples of the unit analysis techniques and the procedures for rounding.

Section 8.4 Percentage and Percentage Calculations

Goal: To show how percentages can be made into conversion factors and show how they are
used in making unit conversions.
Some people have trouble with calculations using percentages. They multiply when they
should divide or divide when they should multiply. This section shows you how to make
conversion factors out of percentages and how these conversions can be used to do percent
calculations with confidence.

Section 8.5 A Summary of the Unit Analysis Process

Goal: To summarize the unit analysis process.
This section summarizes the different types of unit conversions described in this chapter. It
should help you organize your thought process for making unit conversions. Pay special
attention to Figure 8.5.

Section 8.6 Temperature Conversions

Goal: To show how to convert among temperatures expressed in degrees Celsius, degrees
Fahrenheit, and kelvins.
This section shows how to convert from one temperature unit to another. Pay close attention
to the subtleties that arise in rounding off answers to temperature conversions.
 Chapter 8 – Unit Conversions 101

Chapter 8 Map
102 Study Guide for An Introduction to Chemistry

Chapter Checklist

Read the Review Skills section. If there is any skill mentioned that you have not yet
mastered, review the material on that topic before reading the present chapter.
Read the chapter quickly before the lecture that describes it.
Attend class meetings, take notes, and participate in class discussions.
Work the Chapter Exercises, perhaps using the Chapter Examples as guides.
Study the Chapter 8 Glossary and test yourself on our Web site:
Internet: Glossary Quiz
Study all of the Chapter Objectives. You might want to write a description of how you
will meet each objective. (Although it is best to master all of the objectives, the following
objectives are especially important because they pertain to skills that you will need while
studying other chapters of this text: 2, 3, 5, 8, 9, 11, 14, 15, and 16.)
Reread the Study Sheets in this chapter and decide whether you will use them or some
variation on them to complete the tasks they describe.
Sample Study Sheet 8.1: Rounding Off Numbers Calculated Using Multiplication And
Division
Sample Study Sheet 8.2: Rounding Off Numbers Calculated Using Addition and
Subtraction
Sample Study Sheet 8.3: Calculations Using Unit Analysis
Memorize the following.
Be sure to check with your instructor to determine how much you are expected to know
of the following.
 English-metric conversion factors

Type of Probably Most

Measurement Useful to Know Others Useful to Know
Length 2.54 cm 1.609 km 39.37 in. 1.094 yd
(exact)
1 in. 1 mi 1m 1m
Mass 453.6 g 2.205 lb
1 lb 1 kg
Volume 3.785 L 1.057 qt
1 gal 1L

 Equations for temperature conversions

 1.8 °F 
 ? °F = number of °C   + 32 °F
 1 °C 
 1 °C 
 ? °C =  number of °F - 32 °F   
 1.8 °F 
 ? K = number of C + 273.15
 ? C = number of K – 273.15
 Chapter 8 – Unit Conversions 103

To get a review of the most important topics in the chapter, fill in the blanks in the Key
Ideas section.
Work all of the selected problems at the end of the chapter, and check your answers with
the solutions provided in this chapter of the study guide.
Ask for help if you need it.

Web Resources

Internet: Glossary Quiz

Exercises Key

Exercise 8.1 - Conversion Factors: Write two conversion factors that relate the following
pairs of metric units. Use positive exponents for each. (Obj 2)
103 J 1 kJ
a. joule and kilojoule and 3
1 kJ 10 J
102 cm 1m
b. meter and centimeter and 2
1m 10 cm
109 L 1 GL
c. liter and gigaliter and 9
1 GL 10 L
10  g
6
1g
d. gram and microgram and 6
1g 10  g
106 g 1 Mg
e. gram and megagram and 6
1 Mg 10 g
Exercise 8.2 - Unit Conversions: Convert 4.352 micrograms to megagrams. (Obj 3)
 1 g   1 Mg 
? Mg = 4.352  g  6   6  = 4.352  10 Mg
–12

 10  g   10 g 
Exercise 8.3 - Unit Conversions: The volume of the earth’s oceans is estimated to be 1.5
 1018 kiloliters. What is this volume in gallons? (Obj 5)
 103 L   1 gal 
 = 4.0  10 gal
20
? gal = 1.5 × 1018 kL  
 1 kL   3.785 L 
104 Study Guide for An Introduction to Chemistry

Exercise 8.4 - Rounding Off Answers Derived from Multiplication and Division: A
first-class stamp allows you to send letters weighing up to 1 oz. (There are 16 ounces per pound.)
You weigh a letter and find that it has a mass of 10.5 g. Can you mail this letter with one stamp?
The unit analysis setup for converting 10.5 g to ounces follows. Identify whether each value in
the setup is exact. Then determine the number of significant figures in each inexact value,
calculate the answer, and report it to the correct number of significant figures. (Obj 8)
 1 lb   16 oz 
? oz = 10.5 g    = 0.370 oz
 453.6 g   1 lb 
The 10.5 comes from a measurement and has three significant figures. The 453.6 is
calculated and rounded off. It has four significant figures. The 16 comes from a
definition and is exact. We report three significant figures in our answer.
Exercise 8.5 - Rounding Off Answers Derived from Multiplication and Division:
The re-entry speed of the Apollo 10 space capsule was 11.0 km/s. How many hours would it
have taken for the capsule to fall through 25.0 miles of the stratosphere? The unit analysis setup
for this calculation follows. Identify whether each value in the setup is exact. Then determine the
number of significant figures in each inexact value, calculate the answer, and report it to the
correct number of significant figures. (Obj 8)
 5280 ft   12 in.   2.54 cm   1 m   1 km   1 s   1 min  1 hr 
? hr = 25.0 mi     2  3    
 1 mi   1 ft   1 in.   10 cm   10 m   11.0 km   60 s  60 min 
= 1.02  10–3 hr
The 25.0 comes from a measurement and has three significant figures. The 11.0 comes
from a blend of measurement and calculations. It also has three significant figures. All
of the other numbers come from definitions and are therefore exact. We report three
significant figures in our answer.
Exercise 8.6 – Rounding Off Answers Derived from Addition and Subtraction:
Report the answers to the following calculations to the correct number of decimal positions.
Assume that each number is 1 in the last decimal position reported. (Obj 9)
a. 684 – 595.325 = 89 b. 92.771 + 9.3 = 102.1
Exercise 8.7 - Density Conversions: (Obj 11)
a. What is the mass in kilograms of 15.6 gallons of gasoline?
 3.785 L   103 mL   0.70 g gas.   1 kg 
? kg = 15.6 gal     3 
 1 gal   1 L   1 mL gas.   10 g 
 3.785 L   0.70 kg gas. 
or ? kg = 15.6 gal    = 41 kg gasoline
 1 gal   1 L gas. 
b. A shipment of iron to a steel-making plant has a mass of 242.6 metric tons. What is
the volume in liters of this iron?
 103 kg   103 g   1 mL Fe   1 L 
? L = 242.6 t     3 
 1 t   1 kg   7.86 g Fe   10 mL 
 103 kg   1 L Fe 
 = 3.09  10 L Fe
4
or ? L = 242.6 t  
 1 t   7.86 kg Fe 
 Chapter 8 – Unit Conversions 105

Exercise 8.8 - Density Calculations: (Obj 12)

a. A graduated cylinder is weighed and found to have a mass of 48.737 g. A sample of
hexane, C6H14, is added to the graduated cylinder, and the total mass is measured as
57.452 g. The volume of the hexane is 13.2 mL. What is the density of hexane?
? g  57.452  48.737  g
= = 0.660 g/mL
mL 13.2 mL
b. A tree trunk is found to have a mass of 1.2  104 kg and a volume of 2.4  104 L.
What is the density of the tree trunk in g/mL?
? g 1.2 × 104 kg  103 g   1 L 
=    = 0.50 g/mL
1 mL 2.4 × 104 L  1 kg   103 mL 
Exercise 8.9 - Unit Conversions: (Obj 14)
a. The mass of the ocean is about 1.8  1021 kg. If the ocean contains 0.014% by mass
hydrogen carbonate ions, HCO3–, how many pounds of HCO3– are in the ocean?
 0.014 kg HCO3   2.205 lb 
? lb HCO3 = 1.8 × 1021 kg ocean   
 100 kg ocean   1 kg 
= 5. 6  1017 lb HCO3–
b. When you are doing heavy work, your muscles get about 75 to 80% by volume of
your blood. If your body contains 5.2 liters of blood, how many liters of blood are in
your muscles when you are working hard enough to send them 78% by volume of
your blood?
 78 L blood to muscles 
? L blood to muscles = 5.2 L blood total  
 100 L blood total 
= 4.1 L blood to muscles
Exercise 8.10 - Unit Conversions: (Obj 15)
a. The diameter of a proton is 2  10–15 meter. What is this diameter in nanometers?
 109 nm 
? nm = 2 × 1015 m   = 2  10 nm
–6

 1 m 
b. The mass of an electron is 9.1093897  10–31 kg. What is this mass in nanograms?
 103 g   109 ng 
? ng = 9.1093897 × 1031 kg    = 9.1093897  10 ng
–19

 1 kg   1 g 
c. There are 4.070  10 lb of sulfuric acid used to make Jell-O each year. Convert this to
6

kilograms.
 453.6 g   1 kg 
  3  = 1.846  10 kg
6
? kg = 4.070 × 106 lb 
 1 lb   10 g 
d. A piece of Styrofoam has a mass of 88.978 g and a volume of 2.9659 L. What is its
density in g/mL?
? g 88.978 g  1 L 
=   = 0.030000 g/mL
mL 2.9659 L  103 mL 
106 Study Guide for An Introduction to Chemistry

e. The density of blood plasma is 1.03 g/mL. A typical adult has about 2.5 L of blood
plasma. What is the mass in kilograms of the blood plasma in this person?
 103 mL   1.03 g   1 kg 
? kg = 2.5 L    3 
 1 L   1 mL   10 g 
 1.03 kg 
or ? kg = 2.5 L   = 2.6 kg
 1L 
f. Pain signals are transferred through the nervous system at a speed between 12 and 30
meters per second. If a student drops a textbook on her toe, how long will it take for the
signal, traveling at a velocity of 18 meters per second, to reach her brain 6.0 feet away?
 12 in.  2.54 cm   1 m   1 s 
? s = 6.0 ft    2   = 0.10 s
 1 ft  1 in.   10 cm   18 m 
g. An electron takes 6.2  10–9 second to travel across a TV set that is 22 inches wide. What
is the velocity of the electron in km/hr?
? km 22 in.  2.54 cm   1 m   1 km   60 s   60 min 
=      
hr 6.2 × 109 s  1 in.   102 cm   103 m   1 min   1 hr 
= 3.2  108 km/hr
h. The mass of the ocean is about 1.8  1021 kg. If the ocean contains 0.041% by mass
calcium ions, Ca2+, how many tons of Ca2+ are in the ocean? (There are 2000 pounds per
ton.)
2+ 21  0.041 kg Ca 2+   2.205 lb   1 ton 
? ton Ca = 1.8 × 10 kg ocean    
 100 kg ocean   1 kg   2000 lb 
= 8.1  1014 ton Ca2+
i. When you are at rest, your heart pumps about 5.0 liters of blood per minute. Your brain
gets about 15% by volume of your blood. What volume of blood, in liters, is pumped
through your brain in 1.0 hour of rest?
 60 min   5.0 L total   15 L to brain 
? L to brain = 1.0 hr     = 45 L
 1 hr   1 min   100 L total 
Exercise 8.11 - Temperature Conversions: (Obj 16)
a. N,N-dimethylaniline, C6H5N(CH3)2, which is used to make dyes, melts at 2.5 C. What is
N,N-dimethylaniline’s melting point in F and K?

 1.8 °F 
°F = 2.5 °C   + 32 °F = 36.5 F
 1 °C 
K = 2.5 C + 273.15 = 275.7 K
b. Benzenethiol, C6H5SH, a mosquito larvicide, melts at 5.4 F. What is benzenethiol’s
melting point in C and K?
1 °C
°C = (5.4 °F  32 °F) = –14.8 C
1.8 °F
K = –14.8 C + 273.15 = 258.4 K
 Chapter 8 – Unit Conversions 107

c. The hottest part of the flame on a Bunsen burner is found to be 2.15  103 K. What is this
temperature in C and F?
C = 2.15  103 K – 273.15 = 1.88  103 C
 1.8 °F 
 + 32 °F = 3.42  10 F
3
°F = 1.88 × 103 °C 
 1 °C 
or 3.41  103 F if the unrounded answer to the first calculation is used in the
second calculation.

Review Questions Key

The following questions give you a review of some of the important skills from earlier chapters
that you will use in this chapter.
1. Write the metric base units and their abbreviations for length, mass, and volume. (See
Section 1.4.)
Length, meter (m), mass, gram (g), and volume, liter (L)
2. Complete the following table by writing the type of measurement that the unit represents
(mass, length, volume, or temperature) and either the name of a unit or the abbreviation for
each unit. (See Section 1.4.)
Type of Type of
Unit Measurement Abbreviation Unit Measurement Abbreviation
milliliter volume mL kilometer length km
microgram mass g kelvin temperature K

3. Complete the following relationships between units. (See Section 1.4.)

a. 10–6 m = 1 m e. 1 cm3 = 1 mL
b. 106 g = 1 Mg f. 103 L = m3
c. 10–3 L = 1 mL g. 103 kg = 1 t (t = metric ton)
d. 10–9 m = 1 nm h. 1 Mg = 1 t (t = metric ton)
4. An empty 2-L graduated cylinder is weighed on a balance and found to have a mass of
1124.2 g. Liquid methanol, CH3OH, is added to the cylinder, and its volume is measured as
1.20 L. The total mass of the methanol and the cylinder is measured as 2073.9 g. On the basis
of the way these data are reported, what do you assume is the range of possible values that
each represents? (See Section 1.5.)
We assume that each reported number is 1 in the last decimal position reported.
Therefore, we assume the mass of the graduated cylinder between 1124.1 g and
1124.3 g, the volume of the methanol is between 1.19 L and 1.21 L, and the total
mass is between 2073.8 g and 2074.0 g.
108 Study Guide for An Introduction to Chemistry

Key Ideas Answers

5. You will find that the stepwise thought process associated with the procedure called unit
analysis not only guides you in figuring out how to set up unit conversion problems but also
gives you confidence that your answers are correct.
7. In the unit analysis process, we multiply by one or more conversion factors that cancel the
unwanted units and generate the desired units.
9. If you have used correct conversion factors in a unit analysis setup, and if your units cancel to
yield the desired unit or units, you can be confident that you will arrive at the correct answer.
11. Unless we are told otherwise, we assume that values from measurements have an uncertainty
of plus or minus one in the last decimal place reported.
13. When an answer is calculated by multiplying or dividing, we round it off to the same number
of significant figures as the inexact value with the fewest significant figures.
15. Numbers that come from definitions and from counting are exact.
17. When adding or subtracting, round your answer to the same number of decimal places as the
inexact value with the fewest decimal places.
19. The densities of liquids and solids are usually described in grams per milliliter or grams
per cubic centimeter.
21. Because the density of a substance depends on the substance’s identity and its temperature, it
is possible to identify an unknown substance by comparing its density at a particular
temperature to the known densities of substances at the same temperature.
23. Percentage by mass, the most common form of percentage used in chemical descriptions, is a
value that tells us the number of mass units of the part for each 100 mass units of the whole.
25. Note that the numbers 1.8, 32, and 273.15 in the equations used for temperature conversions
all come from definitions, so they are all exact.

Problems Key

Problems Relating to Appendices

26. Convert the following ordinary decimal numbers to scientific notation.
a. 67,294 6.7294  104
b. 438,763,102 4.38763102  108
c. 0.000073 7.3  10–5
d. 0.0000000435 4.35  10–8
28. Convert the following numbers expressed in scientific notation to ordinary decimal numbers.
a. 4.097  103 4,097
b. 1.55412  10 4
15,541.2
c. 2.34  10 –5
0.0000234
d. 1.2  10 –8
0.000000012
 Chapter 8 – Unit Conversions 109

30. Use your calculator to complete the following calculations.

a. 34.25  84.00 = 2,877
b. 2607 8.25 = 316
c. 425 170.22 = 5.5
d. (27.001 – 12.866) 5.000 = 2.827
32. Use your calculator to complete the following calculations.
a. 109  103 = 1012 d. 109  10–4 = 105

b. 10  = 10
12 9
e. 1023  = 1029
c. 103 106102 = 107 f. 10–4 10210–5 = 103
5. 34. Use your calculator to complete the following calculations.
a. (9.5 105) 8.0109) = 7.6  1015
b. (6.12 1019) (6.00103) = 1.02  1016
c. (2.75 104) (6.00 107) 5.0 106) = 3.3  105
d. (8.50 10–7) (2.20103) = 1.87  10–3 or 0.00187
e. (8.203 109) 10–4 = 8.203  1013
f. (7.679 10–4 3.457 10–4) 2.000 10–8 = 2.111  104

Section 8.1 Unit Analysis

36. Complete each of the following conversion factors by filling in the blank on the top of the
ratio. (Objs 2 & 4)
 103 m   1 cm3 
a.   d.  
 1 km   1 mL 
 102 cm   2.54 cm 
b.   e.  
 1m   1 in. 

 103 mm   453.6 g 
c.   f.  
 1m   1 lb 
38. Complete each of the following conversion factors by filling in the blank on the top of the
ratio. (Objs 2 & 4)
 103 g   1.094 yd 
a.   c.  
 1 kg   1m 
 103 mg   2.205 lb 
b.   d.  
 1g   1 kg 
40. The mass of an electron is 9.1093897  10–31 kg. What is this mass in grams? (Obj 3)
 103 g 
 = 9.1093897  10 g
–28
? g = 9.1093897 × 10-31 kg 
 1 kg 
110 Study Guide for An Introduction to Chemistry

42. The diameter of typical bacteria cells is 0.00032 centimeter. What is this diameter in
micrometers? (Obj 3)
 1 m   10  m 
6
?  m = 0.00032 cm  2   = 3.2 m
 10 cm   1 m 
44. The thyroid gland is the largest of the endocrine glands with a mass between 20 and
25 grams. What is the mass in pounds of a thyroid gland with a mass of 22.456 grams?
(Obj 5)
 1 lb 
? lb = 22.456 g   = 0.04951 lb
 453.6 g 
 1 lb 
or ? lb = 22.456 g   = 0.049507 lb
 453.59237 g 
46. The mass of a neutron is 1.674929  10–27 kg. Convert this to ounces. (Obj 5)
(There are 16 oz/lb.)
 103 g   1 lb   16 oz 
? oz = 1.674929 × 1027 kg     = 5.908  10 oz
–26

 1 kg   453.6 g   1 lb 
 103 g   1 lb   16 oz 
? oz = 1.674929 × 1027 kg     = 5.908138  10 oz
–26

 1 kg   453.59237 g   1 lb 
48. A red blood cell is 8.7  10–5 inches thick. What is this thickness in micrometers?
(Obj 5)
 2.54 cm   1 m   10  m 
6
?  m = 8.7 × 105 in.   2   = 2.2 m
 1 in.   10 cm   1 m 

Section 8.2 Rounding Off and Significant Figures

50. Decide whether each of the numbers shown in boldface type is exact. If it is not exact, write
the number of significant figures in it. (Objs 6 and 7)
a. The approximate volume of the ocean, 1.5  1021 L.
The value 1.5  1021 must have come from an estimate or a calculation, so it is
not exact and has two significant figures.
b. A count of 24 instructors in the physical sciences division of a state college
Counting leads to exact values. The 24 is exact.
c. The 54% of the instructors in the physical sciences division who are women
(determined by counting 13 women in the total of 24 instructors and then calculating
the percentage)
Even if a value is calculated from exact values, if the answer is rounded off, the
rounded answer is not exact. 13 divided by 24 and multiplied by 100 yields
54.166667 on a typical calculator. Thus the 54% includes a value that was
rounded off. The 54 is not exact and has two significant figures.
 Chapter 8 – Unit Conversions 111

d. The 25% of the instructors in the physical sciences division who are left-handed
(determined by counting 6 left-handed instructors in the total of 24 and then
calculating the percentage)
Values calculated from exact values and not rounded off are exact. The 25 is
exact.
16 oz
e.
1 lb
English-English conversion factors with units of the same type of measurement
top and bottom come from definitions, so the values in them are exact. The 16 is
exact.
106  m
f.
1m
Metric-metric conversion factors with units of the same type of measurement top
and bottom come from definitions, so the values in them are exact. The 106 is
exact.
1.057 qt
g.
1L
2.54 cm
Except for , the values in English-metric conversion factors that we will
1 in.
see are calculated and rounded off. They are not exact. The 1.057 is four
significant figures.
h. A measurement of 107.200 g water
Measurements never lead to exact values. Zeros in numbers that have decimal
points are significant, and zeros between nonzero digits are significant.
The 107.200 is not exact and is six significant figures.
453.6 g
i. A mass of 0.2363 lb water [calculated from Part (h), using as a conversion
1 lb
factor]
Measurements never lead to exact values. Thus values calculated from
measurements are not exact. The 0.2363 is not exact and has four significant
figures.
j. A mass of 1.182  10–4 tons [calculated from the 0.2363 lb of the water described in
Part (i).]
Values calculated from nonexact values are not exact. The 1.182  10–4 is not
exact and has four significant figures.
52. Assuming that each of the following are not exact, how many significant figures does each
number have? (Obj 7)
a. 13.811 5
b. 0.0445 3
c. 505 3
d. 9.5004 5
e. 81.00 4
112 Study Guide for An Introduction to Chemistry

54. Assuming that each of the following are not exact, how many significant figures does each
number have? (Obj 7)
a. 4.75  1023 3
b. 3.009  10 –3
4
c. 4.000  10 13
4
56. Convert each of the following to a number with 3 significant figures.
a. 34.579 34.6
b. 193.405 193
c. 23.995 24.0
d. 0.003882 0.00388
e. 0.023 0.0230
f. 2,846.5 2.85  103
g. 7.8354  104 7.84  104
58. Complete the following calculations and report your answers to the correct number of
significant figures. The exponential factors, such as 103, are exact, and the 2.54 in Part (c) is
exact. All other numbers are not exact. (Obj 8)
2.45  105 1012 
a. = 103
10  237.00
3

16.050 103 
b. = 6.2 Note that the subtraction yields 5.4, which limits
 24.8  19.4  1.057   453.6 
the final number of significant figures to 2.
4.77  1011  2.54   73.00 
3

c. = 5.71  1011
10 
3

60. Report the answers to the following calculations to the correct number of decimal places.
Assume that each number is 1 in the last decimal place reported. (Obj 9)
a. 0.8995 + 99.24 = 100.14 b. 88 – 87.3 = 1

Section 8.3 Density and Density Calculations

62. A piece of balsa wood has a mass of 15.196 g and a volume of 0.1266 L. What is its density
in g/mL? (Obj 12)
? g 15.196 g  1 L 
=   = 0.1200 g/mL
mL 0.1266 L  103 mL 
64. The density of water at 0 C is 0.99987 g/mL. What is the mass in kilograms of 185.0 mL of
water? (Obj 11)
 0.99987 g   1 kg 
? kg = 185.0 mL   3  = 0.1850 kg
 1 mL   10 g 
 Chapter 8 – Unit Conversions 113

66. The density of a piece of ebony wood is 1.174 g/mL. What is the volume in quarts of a
2.1549-lb piece of this ebony wood? (Obj 11)
 453.6 g   1 mL   1 L   1 gal   4 qt 
? qt = 2.1549 lb    3    = 0.8799 qt
 1 lb   1.174 g   10 mL   3.785 L   1 gal 

Section 8.4 Percentage and Percentage Calculations

68. The mass of the ocean is about 1.8  1021 kg. If the ocean contains 1.076% by mass sodium
ions, Na+, what is the mass in kilograms of Na+ in the ocean? (Obj 14)
 1.076 kg Na + 
 = 1.9  10 kg Na
19 +
? kg Na + = 1.8 × 1021 kg ocean 
 100 kg ocean 
70. While you are doing heavy work, your heart pumps up to 25.0 L of blood per minute. Your
brain gets about 3-4% by volume of your blood under these conditions. What volume of
blood in liters is pumped through your brain in 125 minutes of work that causes your heart to
pump 22.0 L per minute, 3.43% of which goes to your brain? (Obj 14)
 22.0 L total  3.43 L to brain 
? L to brain = 125 min    = 94.3 L to brain
 1 min  100 L total 
72. In chemical reactions that release energy, from 10–8% to 10–7% of the mass of the substances
involved is converted into energy. Consider a chemical reaction for which 1.8  10–8% of the
mass is converted into energy. What mass in milligrams is converted into energy when
1.0  103 kilograms of substance reacts? (Obj 14)
3  1.8 × 108 kg to energy   103 g  103 mg 
? mg to energy = 1.0 × 10 kg reacts    
 100 kg reacts   1 kg  1 g 
= 0.18 mg to energy

Section 8.5 A Summary of the Unit Analysis Process

74. If an elevator moves 1340 ft to the 103rd floor of the Sears Tower in Chicago in 45 seconds,
what is the velocity of the elevator in kilometers per hour? (Obj 15)
? km 1340 ft  12 in.   2.54 cm   1 m   1 km   60 s   60 min 
=        = 33 km/hr
hr 45 s  1 ft   1 in.   102 cm   103 m   1 min   1 hr 
76. Sound travels at a velocity of 333 m/s. How long does it take for sound to travel the length of
a 100-yard football field? (Obj 15)
 3 ft   12 in.   2.54 cm  1 m   1 s 
? s = 100 yd     2   = 0.275 s
 1 yd   1 ft   1 in.  10 cm   333 m 
78. A peanut butter sandwich provides about 1.4  103 kJ of energy. A typical adult uses about
95 kcal/hr of energy while sitting. If all of the energy in one peanut butter sandwich were to
be burned off by sitting, how many hours would it be before this energy was used? (A kcal is
a dietary calorie. There are 4.184 J/cal.) (Obj 15)
 1 kcal   1 hr 
? hr = 1.4 × 103 kJ    = 3.5 hr
 4.184 kJ   95 kcal 
114 Study Guide for An Introduction to Chemistry

80. When one gram of hydrogen gas, H2(g), is burned, 141.8 kJ of heat is released. How much
heat is released when 2.3456 kg of hydrogen gas is burned? (Obj 15)
 103 g   141.8 kJ 
 = 3.326  10 kJ
5
? kJ = 2.3456 kg H 2  
 1 kg   1 g H 2 
82. When one gram of carbon in the graphite form is burned, 32.8 kJ of heat is released. How
many kilograms of graphite must be burned to release 1.456  104 kJ of heat? (Obj 15)
 1 g C   1 kg 
? kg C = 1.456 × 104 kJ    3  = 0.444 kg C
 32.8 kJ   10 g 
84. The average adult male needs about 58 g of protein in the diet each day. A can of vegetarian
refried beans has 6.0 g of protein per serving. Each serving is 128 g of beans. If your only
dietary source of protein were vegetarian refried beans, how many pounds of beans would
you need to eat each day? (Obj 15)
? lb beans 58 g protein  1 serving   128 g beans  1 lb 
=    
day 1 day  6.0 g protein   1 serving  453.6 g 
= 2.7 lb beans per day
86. About 6.0  105 tons of 30% by mass hydrochloric acid, HCl(aq), is used each year to
remove metal oxides from metals to prepare them for painting or for the addition of a chrome
covering. How many kilograms of pure HCl would be used to make this hydrochloric acid?
(Assume that 30% has two significant figures. There are 2000 lb/ton.) (Obj 15)
 30 ton HCl   2000 lb   1 kg 
? kg HCl = 6.0 × 105 ton HCl soln    
 100 ton HCl soln   1 ton   2.205 lb 
 30 ton HCl   2000 lb   453.6 g   1 kg 
? kg HCl = 6.0 × 105 ton soln     3 
 100 ton soln   1 ton   1 lb   10 g 
= 1.6  108 kg HCl
88. A typical nonobese male has about 11 kg of fat. Each gram of fat can provide the body with
about 38 kJ of energy. If this person requires 8.0  103 kJ of energy per day to survive, how
many days could he survive on his fat alone? (Obj 15)
 103 g   38 kJ   1 day 
? day = 11 kg fat     = 52 days
 1 kg   1 g   8.0 × 10 kJ 
3

90. During quiet breathing, a person breathes in about 6 L of air per minute. If a person breathes
in an average of 6.814 L of air per minute, what volume of air in liters does this person
breathe in 1 day? (Obj 15)
 24 hr   60 min   6.814 L air 
? L = 1 day     = 9812 L air
 1 day   1 hr   1 min 
 Chapter 8 – Unit Conversions 115

92. The kidneys of a normal adult female filter 115 mL of blood per minute. If this person has
5.345 quarts of blood, how many minutes will it take to filter all of her blood once?
(Obj 15)
 1 gal   3.785 L   103 mL   1 min 
? min = 5.345 qt blood     
 4 qt   1 gal   1 L   115 mL blood 
 1 L   103 mL   1 min 
or ? min = 5.345 qt blood     = 44.0 minutes
 1.057 qt   1 L   115 mL blood 
94. We lose between 0.2 and 1 liter of water from our skin and sweat glands each day. For a
person who loses an average of 0.89 L H2O per day in this manner, how many quarts of
water are lost from the skin and sweat glands in 30 days? (Obj 15)
 0.89 L   1 gal   4 qt 
? qt = 30 day    
 1 day   3.785 L   1 gal 
 0.89 L   1.057 qt 
or ? qt = 30 day    = 28 qt
 1 day   1 L 
96. The average heart rate is 75 beats/min. How many times does the average person’s heart beat
in a week? (Obj 15)
 7 day   24 hr   60 min   75 beats 
 = 7.6  10 beats
5
? beats = 1 week    
 1 week   1 day   1 hr   1 min 
98. In optimum conditions, one molecule of the enzyme carbonic anhydrase can convert
3.6  105 molecules per minute of carbonic acid, H2CO3, into carbon dioxide, CO2, and
water, H2O. How many molecules could be converted by one of these enzyme molecules in
1 week? (Obj 15)
 7 day   24 hr   60 min   3.6 × 10 molecules 
5
? molecules = 1 week     
 1 week   1 day   1 hr   1 min 
= 3.6  109 molecules
100. In optimum conditions, one molecule of the enzyme amylase can convert 1.0  105
molecules per minute of starch into the sugar maltose. How many days would it take one of
these enzyme molecules to convert a billion (1.0  109) starch molecules? (Obj 15)
 1 min   1 hr   1 day 
? days = 1.0 × 109 molecules     = 6.9 days
 1.0 × 10 molecules   60 min   24 hr 
5

102. When you sneeze, you close your eyes for about 1.00 second. If you are driving 65 miles
per hour on the freeway and you sneeze, how many feet do you travel with your eyes
closed? (Obj 15)
 1 min   1 hr   65 mi   5280 ft 
? ft = 1.00 s      = 95 ft
 60 s   60 min   1 hr   1 mi 
116 Study Guide for An Introduction to Chemistry

Section 8.6 Temperature Conversions

103. Butter melts at 31 C. What is this temperature in F? in K? (Obj 16)
 1.8 °F 
°F = 31 °C   + 32 °F = 88 F K = 31 C + 273.15 = 304 K
 1 °C 
105. A saturated salt solution boils at 226 F. What is this temperature in C? in K?
(Obj 16)
 1 °C 
°C =  226 °F  32 °F    = 108 C K = 108 C + 273.15 = 381 K
 1.8 °F 
107. Iron boils at 3023 K. What is this temperature in C? in F ? (Obj 16)
C = 3023 K – 273.15 = 2.750  103 C
 1.8 °F 
°F = 2.750 × 103 °C   + 32 °F = 4982 F
 1 °C 
109. The surface of the sun is 1.0  104 F. What is this temperature in C? in K? (Obj 16)
 1 °C 
°C = 1.0 × 104 °F  32 °F    = 5.5  10 C
3

 1.8 °F 
K = 5.5  10 C + 273.15 = 5.8  103 K
3