NCC General Chemistry I, Spring 2018

Lecture Summary, Jan. 22 – Jan. 26

Chapter 1 Matter and Measurement

What is CHEMISTRY?

The study/science of MATTER

What is MATTER?

Matter is the "stuff" of the universe (for example air and glass), anything that has mass and has
volume (that is occupies space).

Chemists are specifically interested in the study of substances. A SUBSTANCE is a type of

matter that has a defined, fixed composition (for example table salt).

Matter exists in three different physical forms (states): solid (for example wood), liquid (for
example water), and gas (for example air).

A solid has a fixed shape.

A liquid conforms to the container shape and forms a surface.

A gas conforms to the container shape but fills the entire container.

The characteristics that give each substance its unique identity are called its properties.

The properties that a substance shows without changing into or interacting with another
substance/other substances are called physical properties (for example melting point and
density).

The properties that a substance shows with changing into or interacting with another
substance/other substances are called chemical properties (for example flammability and
reactivity with acids).
A PHYSICAL CHANGE occurs when a substance alters its physical form but remains the same
substance (for example the melting of ice).

A CHEMICAL CHANGE (chemical reaction) occurs when a substance is converted into a

different substance/different substances (for example the conversion of wine to vinegar).

Changes in matter (both physical changes and chemical changes) are accompanied by changes in
energy.

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Modern chemistry has its origins in the history of technology and medicine as well as in
alchemy.

However, many propose that the science of chemistry began with the French chemist Antoine
Lavoisier (1743-1794).

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Measurement in Scientific Study

Human need for exact, invariable standards for measuring quantities (measurable things) has led
to the establishment of an international system of units (SI).

Most Commonly Encountered fundamental units (base units) in the SI system

Physical Quantity Unit Name Unit Abbreviation

Mass kilogram kg

Length meter m

Time second s

Temperature Kelvin K

Electric current ampere A

Amount of matter mole mol

All other SI units (derived units) are combinations of two or more of the above units (for
example the SI unit for speed is m/s).
In the SI system, for quantities that are much smaller or much larger than the base units or the
derived units, the following prefixes appear before the fundamental units (except for Mass, in
which case the prefixes appear before g as kg already has a prefix).

Prefix Prefix Symbol Notation

mega M 1,000,000 or 1×106

kilo k 1,000 or 1×103

deci d 0.1 or 1×10-1

centi c 0.01 or 1×10-2

milli m 0.001 or 1×10-3

micro μ 0.000001 or 1×10-6

nano n 0.000000001 or 1×10-9

pico p 0.000000000001 or 1×10-12

Some Common SI-English Equivalent Quantities

Quantity SI English Equivalents

Length 1 meter (m) 1.094 yards (yd)

Volume 1 cubic decimeter (dm3) = 1 liter (L) 0.2642 gallon (gal)

1 cubic centimeter (cm3) = 1 milliliter (mL) 0.03381 fluid ounce

Mass 1 gram (g) 0.03527 ounce (oz)

Note: Liter (L) and its derived units are used for liquids and gases but commonly not for solids.

Converting Units

Example 1)

A graduated cylinder contains 19.9 mL of water. When a small piece of an ore of lead is added,
it sinks and the volume increases to 24.5 mL. What is the volume occupied by the added piece
in cm3 and in L?
(Note: In solving such problems, ALWAYS list the information you are given and the
information you are asked for.)

Vwater = 19.9 mL

Vwater+the piece = 24.5 mL

Voccupied by the piece (in cm3) = ?

Voccupied by the piece (in L) = ?

Solution: Voccupied by the piece = Vwater+the piece – Vwater = 24.5 mL – 19.9 mL = 4.6 mL

1 𝑐𝑚3
1 mL = 1 cm3 => Voccupied by the piece = 4.6 mL = 4.6 mL × = 4.6 cm3
1 𝑚𝐿

10−3 𝐿
1 mL = 1×10-3 L => Voccupied by the piece = 4.6 mL = 4.6 mL × = 4.6 × 10-3 L
1 𝑚𝐿

Example 2)

Density (d) is a characteristic physical property of a substance and has a specific value. The
𝑚
density of a substance is calculated by dividing its mass by its volume (d = 𝑣 ). The density of
liquid water at room temperature and normal atmospheric pressure is 0.998 g/cm3. What is that
value in kg/m3?

dH2O(l) = 0.998 g/cm3

dH2O(l) = ? kg/m3
10−3 𝑘𝑔
1𝑔 1𝑔×
1𝑔
Solution: dH2O(l) = 0.998 g/cm3 = 0.998 × (1 𝑐𝑚3 ) = 0.998 × = 0.998 ×
(1 𝑐𝑚)3
1 × 10−3 𝑘𝑔 1 × 10−3 𝑘𝑔 1 × 10−3 𝑘𝑔
10−2 𝑚 3
= 0.998 × (1 × 10−2 𝑚)3 = 0.998 × 1 × 10−6 𝑚3 = 0.998 × 1 × 103 kg/m3 = 0.998 × 103
(1 𝑐𝑚 × )
1 𝑐𝑚
kg/m3 = 998 kg/m3

Example 3)

While the temperature scale most commonly used in the U.S. is the Fahrenheit (oF) scale, the
temperature scales used in chemistry are the Celsius (oC) and the Kelvin (K) scales. The lowest
possible temperature in the universe is 0 K and is called absolute zero. T (in K) = T (in oC) +
273.15.
a) Water freezes at +273.15 K. What is that temperature in oC?

b) Water boils at 100 oC. What is that temperature in K?

Solution: T (in K) = T (in oC) + 273.15

a) 273.15 = T (in oC) + 273.15 => T (in oC) = 273.15 – 273.15 = 0

b) T (in K) = 100 + 273.15 = 373.15

Uncertainty in Measurement: Significant Figures

Because of our imperfect senses, skills, and measuring devices, every measurement includes
some uncertainty (error). Indicating the uncertainty that is associated with the measured quantity
is necessary. The uncertainty tells you the range within which your true value is. For example
when you say that the obtained mass of a chemical is 2.036 ± 0.001 kg, it means that its mass is
between 2.035 kg and 2.037 kg.

The digits we record in a measurement are called significant figures. There are two significant
figures in 7.0 g, three in 7.00 g, four in 7.000 g, and five in 7.0000 g. Knowing the numbers of
significant figures (significant digits) is necessary when taking measurements or using
measurements in calculations. In general, are digits are significant, except zeros that are not
measured but are used only to position the decimal point.

In using measurements in calculations, the general rule for expressing answers with the correct
number of significant figures is that the least certain measurement sets the limit on certainty for
the entire calculation and determines the number of significant figures in the final answer (see
the practice problems worked out in the lecture).

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HOMEWORK # 1 (due at the end of the class of the week of January 29, 2018):

1.2, 1.6, 1.30 (a), 1.35 (a), 1.39, 1.54, 1.58