UNIT

Foundations of
Chemistry
Measurements

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 Use the International System of Units for measurements.

International System of Units

The Système International d’Unités (referred to as SI units) are often used to
by scientists. This provides for consistency in measurements.
A BASE UNIT is a fundamental unit that is defined arbitrarily and not by
combinations of other units.
Measurement Unit Abbreviation
length meter m

mass gram g

volume liter L

time second s

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 Use the International System of Units for measurements.

International System of Units

The international system may seem unfamiliar and weird, but really the Imperial system (our
system) is the outlier. By far, most countries use the metric system.

Mostly international system

Mixed
Mostly Imperial
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 Use the International System of Units for measurements.

International System of Units

1 meter (m)

Prefix Symbol Meaning Exponent

tera T trillion 1012

1 decimeter (dm) giga G billion 109

101 mega M million 106

kilo k thousand 103

hecto h hundred 102

deca D ten 101

No Prefix one 100

deci d tenth 101

1 centimeter (cm) centi c hundredth 102

102 milli m thousandth 103

micro μ millionth 106

nano n billionth 109

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 Use the International System of Units for measurements.

International System of Units

Prefix Symbol Meaning

tera T trillion

giga G billion

mega M million

kilo k thousand

hecto h hundred

deca D ten

No Prefix one

deci d tenth
1 meter (m)
centi c hundredth

milli m thousandth
1 decameter (Dm)
micro μ millionth
101
nano n billionth

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 Use the International System of Units for measurements.

International System of Units

Length Common metric units of length include:
centimeter (cm)
Defined as the distance light in a
meter (m)
vacuum travels in 1/299,792,458
of a second. A meter is about 3 kilometer (km)
inches longer than a yard.

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 Use the International System of Units for measurements.

International System of Units

Length

A meter (m) is
approximately the length
from the doorknob to the
floor.

~1 meter (m)

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 Use the International System of Units for measurements.

International System of Units

Length

A centimeter (cm) is
about the diameter of a
shirt button.

~1 centimeter (cm) 8
 Use the International System of Units for measurements.

International System of Units

Mass Common metric units for mass include:
gram (g)
The reference object used was a
kilogram (kg)
metal cylinder made from a
platinum-iridium alloy with a milligram (mg)
height and diameter of 39 microgram (μg)
millimeters (mm). In May 2019,
this definition was changed to
one that is based instead on
precisely measured values of
several fundamental physical
constants. One kilogram is about
2.2 pounds.

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 Use the International System of Units for measurements.

International System of Units

Mass

A gram (g) is approximately

the mass of a dollar bill.

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 Use the International System of Units for measurements.

International System of Units

Mass

A milligram (mg) is the

approximate mass of ten
grains of salt.

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 Use the International System of Units for measurements.

International System of Units

Temperature

Temperature is an intensive property measured in kelvin

K, the SI unit. Kelvin uses no degree symbol, while
Celsius (°C) is also allowed and uses both the word and
symbol "degree."

Both scales have equal-sized units, but different zero

points. For example, water freezes at 0 °C 273.15 K) and
boils at 100 °C 373.15 K.

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 Use the International System of Units for measurements.

International System of Units

Time

The SI base unit of time is the

second (s).

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 Use the International System of Units for measurements.

Derived Quantities
SI derived units are units
of measurement within
the International System
of Units SI) that are
derived from the seven
base units.

An example of this is
volume

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 Use the International System of Units for measurements.

Derived Quantities
Common metric units of volume include:
liter L
milliliter (mL) = cubic centimeter (cm3)
and microliter (μL

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 Use the International System of Units for measurements.

Derived Quantities
The volume of 20 drops of a liquid from a medicine dropper is approximately 1 milliliter
(mL).
1 mL is equal to 1 cubic centimeter (cm3).

A cubic centimeter (cm3) is about

the volume of a sugar cube.

1 mL

1 cm

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 Use the International System of Units for measurements.

Derived Quantities
We use the mass and volume of a substance to determine its density. Thus, the units of density
are defined by the base units of mass (kilogram) and length (meter).

mass
Density =
volume

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 Use the International System of Units for measurements.

Derived Quantities
Density depends on the mass of particles and how tightly they are packed together.
Note: ‘amu,ʼ not grams, is used to measure the mass of very small things like particles)
Which of the following collection of particles has a higher density?

20 amu 5 amu

m
D=
V
Volume = 2 cm3
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 Record measurements and calculations using the correct
number of significant figures to reflect uncertainty.

Significant Figures
You can't create a high-resolution image from a low-resolution one because the missing
detail simply isn't there to recover.

?
1 dpi 2 dpi 5 dpi 10 dpi 25 dpi 72 dpi 300
dpi

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 Record measurements and calculations using the correct
number of significant figures to reflect uncertainty.

Significant Figures Mass / g 62.05

Volumeinitial / mL 43.8
Volumefinal / mL 66.2
Measurements also have resolution, or detail.
Volumerock / mL 22.4
We measure the resolution of a measurement
using significant figures. Density Calculation
D = mass / volume
Just as you cannot determine a D  62.05 g / 22.4 mL
high-resolution image from a low-resolution
image, you cannot determine a D = 2.770089286 g/mL
high-resolution measurement from
low-resolution measurements.

Whatʼs wrong
about this? 20
 Record measurements and calculations using the correct
number of significant figures to reflect uncertainty.

Significant Figures 1 sig fig

estimated

0.6 m or 60 cm

The significant figures in a

measurement include all the known estimated
known digits, plus one estimated 2 sig fig
digit.
0.61 m or 61 cm
This depends on the resolution of
the instrument being used to
make the measurement.
known estimated

For analog instruments, you 3 sig fig

estimate the last digit. 0.608 m or 60.8 cm

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 Record measurements and calculations using the correct
number of significant figures to reflect uncertainty.

Significant Figures
For digital instruments, the device estimates the last digit.

1 sig fig 2 sig fig 5 sig fig

g g
g

estimated known estimated known estimated

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 Record measurements and calculations using the correct
number of significant figures to reflect uncertainty.

Significant Figures
1. All digits 19 are significant.

a. Example: 213 has 3 significant digits.

2. Zeros between significant digits are always significant.

b. Example: 3,013 has 4 significant digits.

3. Trailing zeros in a number are significant only if the number contains decimal point.
c. Example: 200.0 has 4 significant digits and 200 has 1 significant digit.

4. Zeros in the beginning of a number whose only function is to place the decimal point are
not significant.
d. Example: 0.0043 has 2 significant digits.
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 Record measurements and calculations using the correct
number of significant figures to reflect uncertainty.

Significant Figures
4. Zeros in the beginning of a number whose only function is to place the decimal point
are not significant.
a. Example: 0.0043 has 2 significant digits.

5. Zeros following a decimal significant figure are significant.

b. Example: 0.000342 has 3 significant digits and 0.43000 has 5 significant digits.

6. For a number in scientific notation: N x 10x, all digits comprising N ARE significant by
the first 6 rules.
Example: . 5.02 x 104 has THREE significant figures: "5.02"

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 Record measurements and calculations using the correct
number of significant figures to reflect uncertainty.

Significant Figures in Calculations

A calculated answer cannot have more resolution than the least detailed measurement
from which it was calculated.

Rule 1: When multiplying or dividing, the answer must have

the same number of significant figures as the measurement
with the fewest number of significant figures.

Example: 3 sig fig 2 sig fig 4 sig fig ? 2 sig fig ✔

W = 10.3 N x 3.1 m = 31.93 J = 32 J

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 Record measurements and calculations using the correct
number of significant figures to reflect uncertainty.

Significant Figures in Calculations

A calculated answer cannot have more resolution than the least detailed measurement
from which it was calculated.

Rule 2: When adding or subtracting, the answer must have

the same number of decimal places as the measurement with
the fewest number of decimal places.

2 dp 2 dp 1 dp? 2 dp ✔

∆T = 56.31°C - 20.01°C = 36.3°C = 36.30°C

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 Determine the accuracy and precision of sets of data.

Accuracy and Precision

Accuracy is a measure of how close a measurement comes to the actual or true value of
whatever is measured.
Precision is a measure of how close a series of measurements are to one another.

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 Convert units using dimensional analysis.

Dimensional Analysis: Single-Step Conversions

(0.2)(5.0)(20.3) Numbers and units that

(0.2)(20.3) = are in both the
numerator and
denominator of a
fraction cancel
( cm)( °C)( g) (meaning they divide to
= equal 1.
(cm)( g)

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 Convert units using dimensional analysis.

Dimensional Analysis: Single-Step Conversions

Equalities Conversion Factors

12 in 1 ft
12 in = 1 ft
1 ft 12 in
“flip”

1 min 60 s
1 min = 60 s
60 s 1 min
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 Convert units using dimensional analysis.

Dimensional Analysis: Single-Step Conversions

An equality is an equation that shows the relationship between two units.

These are equal.

1 ft = 12 in 1 ft 12 in 100 cm 1m
100 cm = 1 m 12 in 1 ft 1m 100 cm
2 pt = 1 qt

A conversion factor is a ratio of measurements where the numerator and denominator

are equal.
Each equality can be used to write two conversion factors. 30
 Convert units using dimensional analysis.

Dimensional Analysis: Single-Step Conversions

1 km 1000 m
1000 m 1 km
How many meters (m) are in 7.8 kilometers (km)?

What I have goes on the

7.8 km x bottom and what I WANT goes
on the TOP
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 Convert units using dimensional analysis.

Dimensional Analysis: Single-Step Conversions

1 km
1000 m
How many meters (m) are in 7.8 kilometers (km)?

1000 m
7.8 km x 1 km 32
 Convert units using dimensional analysis.

Dimensional Analysis: Single-Step Conversions

In dimensional analysis, the original measurement is multiplied by conversion factors so that
the original unit cancels out and we are left with our desired unit.

How many meters (m) are in 7.8 kilometers (km)?

1000 m
7.8 km x 1 km
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 Convert units using dimensional analysis.

Dimensional Analysis: Multistep Conversions

We can use more than one conversion factor as long as the units keep canceling and we end
up with the desired unit at the end.
Equalities
How many millimeters (mm) are in 6.5 feet (ft? 1 ft = 12 in
1 in = 2.54 cm
100 cm = 1m
1m = 1000 mm

12 in
6.5 ft x _______ x 2.54 cm x _______
_______ 1m 1000 mm
x ________
=
1 ft 1 in 100 cm 1m 34
 Convert units using dimensional analysis.

Dimensional Analysis: Multistep Conversions

To calculate the final answer, multiply all numbers in the numerator and all numbers in the
denominator.

Make sure you bring over the units that didnʼt cancel.

Then, divide the numerator by the denominator.

Multiply

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Multiply
 Convert among the temperature scales of Fahrenheit, Celsius,
and Kelvin.

Temperature Conversions
A thermometer measures the temperature of a
substance.

Thermometers work because most substances expand

when heated.
Thermometer
Liquid
Temperature refers to the hotness or coldness of a Expands
substance When Heated

Low High
Temperature Temperature 36
 Convert among the temperature scales of Fahrenheit, Celsius,
and Kelvin.

Temperature Conversions
To measure temperature scientists often use the Celsius scale. However, a problem with °F
and °C is that they have negative numbers. Negative numbers can give nonsensical
answers when used in mathematical equations.
Because of this the SI unit for temperature is the Kelvin scale.

Negative
Numbers

-79 °C 0 °C 20 °C 37 °C 100 °C
-109 °F 32 °F 68 °F 98.6 °F 212 °F
Dry Ice Freezing Room Body Boiling
Temp. Point Temp. Temp. Point
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H2O H2O
 Convert among the temperature scales of Fahrenheit, Celsius,
and Kelvin.

Temperature Conversions
On the Kelvin scale, 0 K is absolute zero.
Absolute zero is the lowest temperature that is theoretically possible, and
is equivalent to 273.15 °C.

0 K = -273.15 °C
Therefore, there are no negative temperatures on the Kelvin scale.
Absolute zero is the temperature at which all molecular motion stops.

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 Convert among the temperature scales of Fahrenheit, Celsius,
and Kelvin.

Temperature Conversions

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