Measurement and Significant Figures

I. Metric system A. measured and derived units B. conversions II. Measurement A. length B. volume C. mass D. temperature III. Scientific Notation A. Writing numbers IV. Significant Figures A. Determination B. In calculations V. Dimensional Analysis VI. Density VII. % error calculations

I.

Metric System

A.

measured and derived units measured length m mass g volume l time s temp K energy J amount of substance mol

derived area = cm2 volume =cm3 density = g/cm3

B.

conversions (one unit to another)

II.

Measurement A. B. length volume

C. D.

mass temperature

III.

Scientific Notation A. writing numbers Many numbers in chemistry are too large or too small to be easily understood. 1. Examples: mass of a proton 1.672621777(74)?10-27 kg average human body contains 7.00x10 27atoms 2. Technique Correct scientific notation begins with 1 digit, a decimal point, all significant figures x 10 some power. ex: 3031 = 3.031x103 .00000404 = 4.04x10-6 100,000 = 1x105
Remember: moving the decimal to the left = positive exponent decimal to the right = negative exponent

IV.

Significant Figures A. Terminology 1. 2. 3. 4. non-zero digits imbedded zeros - zeros between non zero digits trailing zeros - zeros listed after non-zero digits leading zeros - zeros placed in front of non-zero digits

B.

determination of 1. Examples: # sig figs a) 45.7 b) 8.416 c) 136 d) 400. e) 400 e) 3007. f) 6000.1 g) 0.005 h) 0.080 i) 6.400 j) 200.000 2. 6 5 1 2 4 1 4 4 3 3 3

*THE RULE: all numbers are significant except for a. leading zeros b. trailing zeros without a decimal.

C.

in calculations 1. Addition/ subtraction Rule: The answer is limited to the least precise (fewest decimal places) number in the question. ex. 200.62 7.4966 + 43.314 251.4306 2. multiplication / division Rule: Multiplication / Division The product or quotient is limited to the same number of sig figs as the least in the question. ex. 76.3 800.4 483.20 - 64.605 418.595

x 320 24.416 V. Dimensional Analysis A. B. Uses and Technique Examples: Practice Problems:

45.7

note: The problems begin with very easy problems and become progressively harder. 1. Convert 3.42 g into kilograms 2. How many inches are in 2.0 miles? 3. Dr. Ott can run a marathon (26.22 miles) in 2.925 hours. What is his average speed in m/s? 4. If I average driving 60.0 miles/hour when traveling (including stops and sleeping) how far can I get in 3.5 days?

VI.

Density A. Density is defined as how tightly packed the atoms in a substance are. With regard to elements, the metal osmium is the densest, nearly twice as dense as lead. Each element has a unique value for density and therefore it is a way unknown elements can be identified.

B.

Examples: 1. Calculate the density for the following object. If you know that the object has a mass of 20. grams and the volume is 10. ml. 2. Calculate the volume for the following object If you know that the object has a mass of 21.0 grams and the density is 12.0 g/ml. 3. Calculate the mass for the following object. If you know that the object has a density of 20.0 g/ml and the volume is 5.00 ml. 4. Calculate the density of a liquid in a beaker. The beaker has a mass of 15 grams when empty. The beaker plus an unknown liquid has a mass of 50. grams. What is the density of the liquid if its volume is 10. mL? 5. What is the volume in mL of 10.5 g of Br2? 6. What is the mass (in kg) of 3.2 L of Br2?

VII. % error calculations

See reference tables for formula