MEASUREMENTS AND

CALCULATIONS IN
CHEMISTRY
SCH3U
FEDOR, HARRIS & PAPAICONOMOU

ACCURACY & PRECISION

Precision
of a Group of Measurements

Accuracy

ow close a measured value is to the actual (true) value- how close measured values are to each other
- accuracy is correct (bullseye)
- precision is repeating (same spot, may not be bullsey

TYPES OF QUANTITIES IN SCIENCE

Exact Values

Measurements

Use measuring instrument

(thermometer, balance, graduated cylinder)

Defined quantity ( 1 m = 100 cm )

Counted values ( 12 students in a class )

There is some uncertainty or error associated

PRECISION of a Measurement
= place value of the last measurable digit

UNCERTAINTY IN MEASUREMENTS
Random Error

Estimate made to obtain the last significant figure for any

measurement

Size of random error determined by precision of the measuring

instrument which is based on the gradations of the measuring
instrument
(reviewed in previous lesson)

Systemic Error

Associated with an inherent problem with the measuring system

Presence of interfering substance

Incorrect calibration

Room conditions

ROUNDING

To round a number you must first find the rounding digit (digit occupying the place value
you're rounding to).

Then look at the digit to the right of the rounding digit.

If it is less than 5, then leave the rounding digit unchanged.

If it is more than five, add one to the rounding digit.

If it is exactly equal to five, the rule is to always round the rounding digit to the even number.

If you're dealing with a decimal number, drop all of the digits following the rounding digit.
If you're dealing with a whole number, all the digits to the right of the rounding digit become
zero.
rounding
digit
3. 4.35 C
4.4 C
1. 1237 mL 1200 mL
2. 0.237 mg 0.24 mg

precise to the hundreds

precise to the hundredths

precise to the tenths

ADDITION & SUBTRACTION

PRECISION
When adding and subtracting,
the answer is rounded to the same precision as the least precise measurement.
This is often the same number of decimal places as the value with the least decimal places
but always the least precise number (highest lowest place value).

4.82 cm + 14.304
cm 3 DP
2 DP

120 mL -

precise
to the
tens

12.45 mL
precise
to the
hundredths

19.124 cm

19.12 cm

2 DP

107.55 mL

110 mL

precise to the tens

SIGNIFICANT FIGURES/DIGITS
The more digits there are in a measurement, the more certain you are about the measurement.
Significant figures/digits: digits that are certain plus one estimated (uncertain) digit

Rules to Determine the Number of Significant Figures/Digits

1. If a decimal point is present, zeros to the left of the first non-zero are not significant.
i.e. 00076 cm
2. If a decimal point is not present, zeros to the right of the last non-zero are not significant.
i.e. 43200 mL
3. All other digits are significant.
4. When a measurement is written in scientific notation, all digits in the coefficient are significant.
3.5 x 103 moles
5. Counted and defined values have infinite significant digits.

MULTIPLICATION & DIVISION

SIGNIFICANT FIGURES/DIGITS
When multiplying and dividing,
the answer is rounded to the same number of significant figures
as the measurement with the fewest number of significant figures.

4.82 cm x
3 SD

14.304 cm
5 SD

68.94528 cm2
3 SD

68.9 cm2

CALCULATIONS INVOLVING BOTH

ADDITION/SUBTRACTION &
MULTIPLICATION/DIVISION
Track the precision/significant digits in the order that these rules need to be used according
to the operations.
Only round at the end!

( 4.8 g + 3.271 g/ 14.304

)
mL
1 DP
3 DP

2 SD
=

5 SD

2 SD

8.071 g / 14.304 mL= 0.564248 g/mL

1 DP

0.56 g/mL

SCIENTIFIC NOTATION
Used to deal with very large and very small numbers
General form:
significant

a x 10n

Decimal Notation

where 1 |a| < 10

& all digits in coefficient a are

Scientific Notation

237 000 000 mm

exponent is positive

2.37 x 108 mm

0.000 000 430 g

exponent is negative

4.30 x 10-7 g

* move decimal to the left &

* move decimal to the right &

Note: * coefficient is rounded to the same certainty (number of significant figures) as in

decimal notation

CALCULATIONS INVOLVING SCIENTIFIC

NOTATION
Addition/Subtraction

Multiplication/Division

Multiply/divide coefficients,
and add/subtract the exponents.

If exponents (and units) are the same,

coefficients can be added/subtracted.

Express the answer in appropriate

form.
(3.82 x 10-4 g) (9.6 x 103 cm)
7.3 x 104 cm + 4.76 x 104 cm
= 12.06 x 104 cm
= 1.206 x 105 cm
1.21 x 105 cm

= 0.397917 x 10-7 g/cm

= 3.97917 x 10-8 g/cm
4.0 x 10-8 g/cm

Express the answer in appropriate form.

CALCULATORS & SCIENTIFIC NOTATION

How do I key in scientific notation values into my calculator?

Scientific Notation Number: 3.67 x 10-2

1. Use brackets

10

EE
EXP
10x

+/-

2. Use exponent button

** preferred method

yx

+/-

* Test your calculator for order of +/- & #

Types of Conversions
60 s = 1 min
60 min = 1 h
24 h = 1 day
100 cm = 1 m
Dimensional analysis is a problem-solving method that uses the idea that any number
or expression can be multiplied by one without changing its value.

UNIT CONVERSIONS

A conversion factor, or a fraction that is equal to one, is used, along with what youre
given, to determine what the new unit will be.
fraction. **
You can write any conversion as a fraction. Be careful how you write that

ample: There are 2.54 cm in one inch. How many inches are in 17.3 cm?
Given:

17.3 cm

Want: # inches
Let z equal # inches
Conversion Factor:

Conversion:
z = 17.3 cm x
= 6.81102 in
6.81 in