DIMENSIONAL ANALYSIS (i.e.
PROBLEM-SOLVING FOR CHEMISTRY)
MEMORIZE THE HIGHLIGHTED METRIC PREXIES.
Dimensional Analysis Name:
POGIL #1
What is dimensional analysis and how is it used?
Information 1- Math Review
Recall that when multiplying fractions terms in both the numerator and denominator of a
fraction cancel out:
5 3
1.5
2 5
2a b 7
0.5b
7 a 4
1.2 10 2 2m 5m 1
2.0 m
5 x 1.2m 100 x
Critical Analysis Questions
1. Cross out any term above that appears in both the numerator and denominator. Can you
see why each final answer is correct?
2. Reduce and multiply the following fraction. Make the numeric portion a decimal as
shown above.
3 f 12i 2.54c 1m
10 y
1y 1 f 1i 100c
Information 2- Conversion Factors
Conversion factors are fractions made from unit equalities that are used to convert
measurements from one unit to another.
Conversion factors are always equal to 1, because the numerator and denominator are equal.
60s 1min
60 seconds 1 minute or
1min 60s
1 gal 4qt
1 gallon 4 quarts or
4 qt 1gal
Critical Analysis Question
1. There are 2.54 centimeters in every 1 inch.
a. Create two conversion factors from the information above.
b. Which is the bigger unit of length, cm or in? How do you know?
Information 3- Dimensional Analysis
Dimensional analysis is a technique for converting between units using conversion factors.
Conversion factors are chosen and arranged so that all units cancel out except the unit(s) of
interest.
1000 seconds to minutes: 10 quarts to gallons:
1min 1gal
1000s 16.7 min 10qt 2.5gal
60s 4qt
1000 seconds to hours: 10 cups to gallons:
1min 1hr 1pint 1qt 1gal
1000s 0.28hr 10cups 0.625gal
60s 60 min 2cups 2pint 4qt
Critical Analysis Questions:
1. Cross out any term above that appears in both the numerator and denominator. Can you
see why each final answer is correct?
2. Use dimensional analysis to convert the length of a football field (100 yards) to each of
the following units of length. Show your work and cross out units that cancel.
a. Feet
b. Inches
c. Meters
d. Millimeters
3. Light travels at 3.0 x 108 m/s. Convert this speed to mph. (Hint: 1 mile = 5280 ft)
Dimensional Analysis
Conversion Factors
Prefixes
Bigger or smaller than the base unit? Provide a power of ten.
1. Centi-
2. Kilo-
3. Micro-
4. Pico-
Equalities
Write two equalities for each of the following base unit / prefix combinations. Here is an
example of an equality pair: For length, centi- 1 cm = 10-2 m OR 102 cm = 1 m
5. Mass, Micro-
6. Volume, Nano-
7. Length, Milli-
Identify the conversion factor(s) that is/are correctly written.
1012 pm
8.
1m
1L
9.
10-3 mL
10-2 kg
10.
1g
Conversions
Check the following conversions for accuracy. Circle mistakes, correct if needed, and solve for
a final answer.
1m 10-3 km
11. 1.67 x 103 cm x x =
10-2 cm 1m
1g 1 μg
12. 20 mg x x =
103 mg 10-6 g
1L 1 nL
13. 4.623 x 10-15 pL x x =
109 pL 10-6 L
Rewrite the following conversions using the “opposite” form for each conversion factor. Then,
determine a final answer for the conversion.
1L -3 L
(i.e. Instead of 3 , use 10 )
10 mL 1 mL
1g 109 ng
14. 523 kg x x =
10-3 kg 1g
2 1L 103 mL
15. 8.75 x 10 cL x x =
102 cL 1L
Dimensional Analysis #1 Name:
Conversion Practice
Use dimensional analysis to make the following conversions. Show all units. Use scientific
notation where appropriate.
1. Convert the following lengths to centimeters:
a. 1.5 km
b. 102 mm
c. 5.0 x 107 nm
2. Convert the following volumes to milliliters:
a. 1.5 L
b. 102 cm3
c. 20 microliters
3. The mass of the Earth is 5.97 x 1024 kg.
a. Convert this mass to grams.
b. Convert this mass to milligrams.
4. A piece of computer paper is 8” across. (1 in = 2.54 cm)
a. Convert its length to centimeters.
b. Convert its length to meters.
5. A pop can holds 0.355 L. Convert this volume to cubic centimeters.
6. The density of an unknown liquid is 0.85 g/ml. Convert the density to kg/cm3.
7. An automobile travels at 65 mph. Convert this speed to feet per second.
Dimensional Analysis #2 Name:
Calculations with Density
The following problems can be completed with or without the use of dimensional analysis.
Show all work and include units.
1. The density of sodium is 0.971 g/cm3. What volume in cm3 will 10.00 g of sodium occupy?
2. An unknown metal has a mass of 2.85 x 10-2 kg and a volume of 0.028 ml. What is the
density of the metal in g/cm3?
3. A graduated cylinder contains 9.5 ml of water. What is the mass of the water in kg? The
density of the water is approximately 1 g/ml.
4. The density of aluminum is 2.7 g/ml. Convert this density to kg/cm3.
5. A gold-digger found 10.00 grams of gold. How many Liters of gold does she have if the
density of gold is 19.32 g/cm3?
6. A liquid has a volume of 100.0 ml and a mass of 85.0 g. Determine the density of the liquid
in kg/cm3.
7. A piece of metal has a volume of 13.0 cm3. What is its mass in grams if the metal has a
density of 7.86 x 10-3 kg/ml?
Selected Answers
1. a. 1.5 x 105 cm
b. 10 cm
c.
2. a. 1.5 x 103 ml
b. 102 ml
c. 2 x 10-2 ml
3. a. 5.97 x 1027 g
b. 5.97 x 1030 mg
4. a. 20 cm
b. 2.0 x 10-1 m
5.
6. 8.5 x 10-4 kg/cm3
7. 95 ft/s
Selected Answers
1. 10.30 cm3
2.
3. 9.5 x 10-3 kg (Assuming density of water is a defined value with infinite sig figs)
4. 2.7 x 10-3 kg/cm3
5.
6. 8.50 x 10-4 kg/cm3
7. 1.02 x 102 g