Metric Conversions

Using your knowledge of prefixes

and a systematic approach called the
Factor Unit Conversion Method

Ex. 1-1a: Convert 3.85 m to mm

(3.85 m)( 1000 mm) = 3850 mm
(m)
= 3.85 x 103 mm
Ex 1-1b: Convert 75.2 mg to kg
mg g kg
(75.2 mg)( g ) ( kg ) = 0.0000752 kg
(1000mg) (1000g)
= 7.52 x 10-5 kg

Ex.1-2: Convert 22.0 cg to ng

Recall:

1 cg = 10-2g, or 1 g = 102cg
1 ng = 10-9g or 1 g = 109 ng

[22.0 cg][ g ] [ 109 ng ] = 22.0 x107ng

[ 102 cg] [ g ]
= 2.20 x 108 ng

Ex.1-3 Convert 0.0035 L to

microlitres
Note:

1L = 106 L

[0.0035 L ] [ 106 L ] = 3500 L

L
= 3.5 x 103 L

Ex.1-4 Convert 7.6 ng to picograms

Given: 1 g = 1012 pg

or

1 pg = 10-12 g

[ 7.6 ng] [ g ] [ 1012 pg ] = 7.6 x 103 pg

[ 109 ng ] [ g ]

Ex. 1-5 Convert 150

3
cm

to

3
m

1 m = 102 cm
(1 m)3 = ( 102 cm)3
therefore ; 1 m3 = 106 cm3
Note:

[ 150 cm3 ] [ m3 ] = 1.5 x 10-4 m3

[ 106 cm3 ]

Ex. 1-6 Convert 1.82 g /cm3 to kg/m3

[ 1.82 g/cm3 ] [ kg/103g ] [ 106 cm3/m3 ] =
=1.82 x 103 kg/m3
Or

[ 1.82 g ] [1 kg ] [ 106 cm3 ] = 1.82 x 103 kg/m3

[ cm3 ] [ 103 g ] [ m3 ]

Ex#2 Lab. Manual(Post Lab Q)

1. b) 0.5 cm = ---?--- m
[ 0.5 cm] [ 1 m ] [ 106 m ] = 5 x 103 m
[ 102 cm] [ m ]

Ex. 1-7 Density , d = m/V

Calc. the volume in liters at 20oC occupied
by 880 g of benzene (found in gasoline),
given the density of benzene
d20 = 0.88 g/mL
V = m/d = 880 g = 1000mL = 1.0 L
0.88g/mL

Ex. 1-8 Density, d = m/V

Calc. the density in g/mL for a piece of
metal measuring: 2.0 cm by 0.10 dm by 25 mm
with a mass of 30.0 g.
Convert all distances to cm.
ie: 0.1 dm = {0.1 dm}{1m/10dm} = 0.010 m =
(0.010m)(100cm/m) = 1.0 cm
V = (2.0cm)(1.0cm)(2.5cm) = 5.0 cm3 (contd)

(contd) V=5.0 cm3 = 5.0 mL

and m = 30.0 g
d = m/V = 30.0 g = 6.0 g/cm3
5.0 cm3
= 6.0 g/mL

Ex. 1-9 Density , d = m/V

Calc. the volume (in mL) at 20oC occupied by a
sample of benzene with a mass of 2.5 kg and a
density d20 = 8.8 x 102 kg/m3

m = 2.5 kg
d = 8.8 x 102 kg/m3 at 20oC

Ex. 1-9 Density (contd)

V = m/d = 2.5 kg
= 0.00284 m3
880 kg/m3
convert to cm3 ie. mL

{0.00284 m3}{106 cm3 / m3}= 2.8 x 103 cm3=2800 mL

Temperature Scales:
Fahrenheit

0F, 0C,
Celsius

Kelvin

Bops of water

212 o

100o

373

Body Temp.

98.60

370

310

Freezing Pt.
H20
Absolute Zero

320

00

273

- 4600

-2730

Temp. Conversion Formulae

K = 0C + 273
0F = 1.8 0C + 32
Note:1.8 = 9/5 this is derived from the
ratio of the number of subdivisions in the
Fahrenheit scale(180) to that in the Celsius
scale (100); 180/100 = 9/5 = 1.8

Ex. 1-10 Convert 250F to Celsius

and Kelvin
0F

= 1.8 0C + 32

0C

= 0F - 32
1.8

= -25 - 32 = -31.6
1.8

K = 0C + 273 = -31.6 + 273 = 241.4

Ex. 1-11 Temp. Conversions

The lowest recorded temp. in the world was
-89.20C at the former Soviet Antarctic
station in 1983. Convert this into 0F.
0F

= 1.8 0C + 32 = 1.8( -89.2 ) + 32

= -160.56 + 32
= -128.60 = -129 0

Average Temp. of the Planets

The Sun 2 x 107 K
Earth

(250-300)K

( -2327) 0C

Mars

(150-250)K

(-123 -23) 0C

Pluto

40 K

- 233 0C