CHAPTER

1
UNITS OF MEASUREMENTS
q S.I Units
q Significant figures
q Scientific notation
q Dimensional analysis
q Conversion of S.I units
At the end of this chapter, students should be able to:

§ Identify the basic units of measurement in the metric and SI systems of

measurement.
§ Determine how many significant figures are in a number, and use the
concept of significant figures in expressing the answer to a calculation.
§ Use a systematic approach involving dimensional analysis and conversion
factors to convert from one unit to another.

§ Explain rules for rounding numbers.

§ Explain the concept of scientific notation
§ Calculate density of substance
 CHEMISTRY
ü Chemistry is the study of matter and the changes
it undergoes.
ü Either macroscopic or microscopic (atomic or
molecular) approach.

Macroscopic Microscopic
 CHANGES in CHEMISTRY
A physical change does not alter the composition or
identity of a substance. Examples are ice melting and
sugar dissolving.
A chemical change alters the composition or identity
of the substance(s) involved. Examples hydrogen
burns in air to form water.

hydrogen burns in air to

form water
 MEASUREMENTS
} Measurements of the macroscopic properties can be determined
directly.
v Pipette, burette, measuring cylinder to measures the volume
v Thermometer measures the temperature
v Balance measures the mass
v Stop watch measures the time
} Measurements of the microscopic properties must be
determined by indirect method.
q Mass spectrometer measure the molecular or atomic mass
q Spectrophotometer measure the energy, frequency,
wavelength, due to excitation, vibration, rotation or stretching
of the molecules
} Measured quantity usually written as a number
with appropriate unit. Units are essential to
state measurement correctly.
 SI UNITS
} Chemists recorded measurements in metric units.
} S.I is a revised metric system which abbreviated
from French Systeme Internationale d’Unites or
International Systems of Units.
} There are 7 S.I Unit where all other units in world is
derived from these S.I Units.
• A prefix name attaches directly to the name of a unit, and a prefix
symbol attaches directly to the symbol for a unit.

• For example, one kilometer, 1 km, is equal to one thousand meters,

1000 m or 103m.

103m = 1000 m = 1 kilometer = 1 km

Unit
SI prefix Name of a Prefix
unit symbol
Memorise this!
Length
The SI base unit of length is meter (m). To measure length that is much
larger than meter, we often use kilometer, kilo means 1000. Length which are
smaller than meter are centimeter (cm) and millimeter (mm).
For measurements at the atomic and molecular level, we use micrometer (μm),
nanometer (nm), and picometer (pm).

Mass
• Mass is the measure of the quantity of matter in an object and it is constant.
• The weight of an object is the force of earth’s gravity on the object and this
force is directly proportional to the mass of the object and it is vary.
Therefore, mass is used as the fundamental measure of quantity of matter. The SI
unit of mass is kilogram (kg):
1 kg = 103 g = 1000 g
The milligram (mg) is suitable for small quantities of materials:
1 mg = 10-3 g = 0.001 g
 Area The unit for area and volume are related to the base unit of length.
The SI unit for area is the square meter (m2) but it is more convenient to work with
cm2 and mm2.
Area = length (m) x length (m) = m2
1 cm2 = (10-2 m) 2 = 10-4 m2; 1 m2 = ………….. cm2
1 mm2 = (10-3 m) 2 = 10-6 m2; 1 m2 = ……………mm2

volume

The SI unit for volume is cubic meter (m3), but two units that are commonly used
in the lab are cubic centimeter (cm3) and cubic decimeter (dm3).
Volume = length(m) x length(m) x length(m) = m3
1 cm3 = (10-2 m) 3 = 10-6 m3
1 dm3 = (10-1 m)3 = 10-3 m3
Although it is not SI unit, the old metric unit liter is also
commonly used:
1 liter = 1 L = 1000 mL = 1dm3 = 1000 cm3
1 mL = 0.001 L = 1 cm3
Temperature

• Three temperature
use: K (Kelvin), oC
(degrees Celcius),
and oF (degrees
Fahrenheit).

• The degree Celcius

is not an SI unit.
Temperatures
Kelvin ( K )
The “Absolute temperature scale” begins at
absolute zero and only has positive values.

Celsius ( oC )
The temperature scale used by science, formally
called centigrade, most commonly used scale
around the world. Water freezes at 0oC and boils at
100oC.

Fahrenheit ( oF )
Commonly used scale in the U.S. for weather
reports. Water freezes at 32oF and boils at 212oF.
Density
Example 1:
A piece of platinum metal of mass 96.4
qDensity is the mass of the object g has a volume of 4.49 cm3. Calculate
the density of the element platinum
divided by its volume. (Pt).
qThe SI derived unit for density is the
kilogram per cubic meter (kg/m3)
1 g/cm3 = 1 g/ml = 1000 kg/m3
1 g/L = 0.001 g/mL
Example 2:
A piece of platinum metal with a density
of 21.5 g/cm3 has a volume of 4.49 cm3.
What is its mass?
m
d= m=dxV
V
= 21.5 g/cm3 x 4.49 cm3 = 96.5 g
SI derived units expressed in terms of SI base units
Measure of Unit Symbol
Area square meter m2
Volume cubic meter m3
Velocity meter per second m/s

Acceleration meter per second squared m/s2

Density kilogram per cubic meter kg/m3

Current density ampere per square meter A/m2

Magnetic field strength ampere per meter A/m

Specific volume cubic meter per kilogram m3/kg

Luminance candela per square meter cd/m2

 CONVERSION OF S.I UNITS

m ® pm
Convert 100 m ® ? p m

100 m X 1 m = pm

pm

100 X 1 = pm
1 x 10-12

= 1 x 1014 pm
Convert 210 nm to mm

210 nm = mm
mm

210 1 x 10-9 = mm
1 x 10-3

= 2.1 x 10-4 mm
TRY!!!!!!

414 pg ® ? c g
414 pg ® ? c g

414 pg = cg
cg

414 1 x 10-12 = cg
1 x 10-2

= 4.14 x 10-8 cg
Area (m2)

Convert 212 dm2 to km2

212 dm2 = km2

km2

212 (1 x 10-1) 2 = km2

(1 x 103) 2

= 2.12 x 10-6 km2

Volume (m3)

Convert 121 mm3 to nm3

121 mm3 = nm3

nm3

121 (1 x 10-3) 3 = nm3

(1 x 10-9) 3

= 1.21 x 1020 nm3

 Density = m/ v = g /cm3 etc……..

Convert 6.6 g/cm3 to p g /M m3

6.6 g = pg
pg Mm3

cm3
Mm3

6.6 1 = 6.6 1 x 1012 = 6.6 x 1036 pg/mm3

1 x 10-12 1 x 10-24
(1 x10-2)3
(1 x 106)3
Temperature (K, oF ,0C)

oC to oF = (1.8 x oC ) + 32

oF to oC = F – 32
1.8

oC to K = oC + 273

oF and K has no direct relationship so need

to convert to oC first, then to K.
K ® oF
oC
Convert 100 oC to 0F

(1.8 x oC ) + 32 = (1.8 x 100) + 32

= 212 oF
Convert 38 oF to 0C

F – 32 = 38 - 32
1.8 1.8

= 3.3 oC
Try!!!

200 oF to K

Answer: 366.3 K
1. oF to oC = (200 – 32) /1.8 = 93.3 oC

2. oC to K = oC + 273 = 93.3 + 273 = 366.3 K

27
Scientific Notation
• Scientific notation is the way that scientists easily handle very large
numbers or very small numbers.
• Examples :
65,000 kg ® 6.5 × 104 kg

• How to convert into Sci. Notation:

Ø Move decimal until there’s 1 digit to its left.
Ø Places moved = exponent.
Ø Large # (>1) Þ (+)ve exponent (decimal point shifted to the right)
Small # (<1) Þ (-)ve exponent (decimal point shifted to the left)
• As an example,
10000 = 1 x 104 24327 = 2.4327 x 104
1000 = 1 x 103 7354 = 7.354 x 103
100 = 1 x 102 482 = 4.82 x 102
10 = 1 x 101 89 = 8.9 x 101 (not usually done)
1 = 100
1/10 = 0.1 = 1 x 10-1 0.32 = 3.2 x 10-1 (not usually done)
1/100 = 0.01 = 1 x 10-2 0.053 = 5.3 x 10-2
1/1000 = 0.001 = 1 x 10-3 0.0078 = 7.8 x 10-3
1/10000 = 0.0001 = 1 x 10-4 0.00044 = 4.4 x 10-4
Scientific Notation
The number of atoms in 12 g of carbon:
602,200,000,000,000,000,000,000
6.022 x 1023
The mass of a single carbon atom in grams:
0.0000000000000000000000199

1.99 x 10-23
N x 10n
N is a number n is a positive or
between 1 and 10 negative integer
 Scientific Notation
568.762 0.00000772
move decimal left move decimal right
n>0 n<0
568.762 = 5.68762 x 102 0.00000772 = 7.72 x 10-6

Addition or Subtraction
1. Write each quantity with 4.31 x 104 + 3.9 x 103
the same exponent n = 4.31 x 104 + 0.39 x 104
2. Combine N1 and N2 = 4.70 x 104
3. The exponent, n, remains
the same
 Scientific Notation
Multiplication
1. Multiply N1 and N2 (4.0 x 10-5) x (7.0 x 103)
2. Add exponents n1 and n2 = (4.0 x 7.0) x (10-5+3)
= 28 x 10-2
= 2.8 x 10-1
Division
1. Divide N1 and N2 8.5 x 10 4 ÷ 5.0 x 109

2. Subtract exponents n1 and n2 = (8.5 ÷ 5.0) x 10 4-9

= 1.7 x 10-5
Significant figures
• Precision of a measured number is indicated using the concept of
significant figures.
• Those digits in a measured number (or result of a calculation with
measured numbers) that include all certain digits plus a final one
have some uncertainty
Ø Three measurements (9.12, 9.11, and 9.13 cm)
Ø Avg = 9.12 First two digits (9.1) are certain, the next digit is estimated, so
it has some uncertainty
 Rules for deciding the number of significant figures in a measured
quantity
1) All nonzero digits are significant:

1.234 g has 4 significant figures,

1.2 g has 2 significant figures.
2) Zeroes between nonzero digits are significant:

1002 kg has 4 significant figures,

3.07 mL has 3 significant figures.
3) Leading zeros to the LEFT of the first nonzero digits are NOT
SIGNIFICANT; such zeroes merely indicate the position of the
decimal point:

o
0.001 C has only 1 significant figure,
0.012 g has 2 significant figures.
4) Trailing zeroes that are also to the RIGHT of a decimal point in a
number are SIGNIFICANT:
0.0230 mL has 3 significant figures,
5) When a number ends in zeroes that are not to the right of a decimal
point, the zeroes are not necessarily significant:

190 miles may be 2 or 3 significant figures,50,600 calories may be

3, 4, or 5 significant figures.

The potential ambiguity in the last rule can be avoided by the use
of standard exponential, or "scientific," notation. For example,
depending on whether the number of significant figures is 3, 4, or
5, we would write 50,600 calories as:
4 4
5.06 × 10 calories (3 significant figures)5.060 × 10 calories (4
4
significant figures), or5.0600 × 10 calories (5 significant figures).
Significant Figures
q Any digit that is not zero is significant
1.234 kg 4 significant figures
q Zeros between non-zero digits are significant
606 m 3 significant figures
q Zeros to the left of the first non-zero digit are not
significant
0.08 L 1 significant figure
q If a number is greater than 1, then all zeros to the right of
the decimal point are significant
2.0 mg 2 significant figures
q If a number is less than 1, then only the zeros that are at
the end and in the middle of the number are significant
0.00420 g 3 significant figures
How many significant figures are in each of the
following measurements?

24 mL 2 significant figures

3001 g 4 significant figures

0.0320 m3 3 significant figures

6.4 x 104 molecules 2 significant figures

560 kg 3 significant figures

Rules For Mathematical Operations
• In carrying out calculations, the general rule is that the accuracy of
a calculated result is limited by the least accurate measurement
involved in the calculation.
1) In ADDITION AND SUBTRACTION, the result is rounded off to
the last common digit occurring furthest to the right in all
components. Another way to state this rules, is that, in addition
and subtraction, the result is rounded off so that it has the same
number of decimal places as the measurement having the fewest
decimal places.

For example,

100 (0 dec. place)

+ 23.643 (3 dec. places)
= 123.643
which should be rounded to 124 (0 dec. place).
Addition & Subtraction
The answer cannot more digits to the right of the decimal
point than any of the original numbers.
89.332
+ 1.1 1 decimal point
90.432 round off to 90.4 1 decimal point

3.70 2 decimal point

-2.9133
0.7867 round off to 0.79 2 decimal point
2)In MULTIPLICATION AND DIVISION, the result should be rounded off
so as to have the same number of significant figures as in the
component with the least number of significant figures. For
example,

• For example:
3.0 (2 significant figures )
× 12.60 (4 significant figures)
= 37.8000
which should be rounded off to 38 (2 significant figures)
Multiplication & Division
The number of significant figures in the result is set by the original
number that has the smallest number of significant figures.

4.51 x 3.6666 = 16.536366 = 16.5

3 sig figs round to 3 sig figs

3 sig figs

6.8 ÷ 112.04 = 0.0606926= 0.061

2 sig figs round to 2 sig figs

2 sig figs
 RULES FOR ROUNDING OFF NUMBERS
When the answer to a calculation contains too many significant figures, it must be
rounded off.

1) If the digit to be dropped is greater than 5, drop the digit and add 1 to the preceding
digit. For example, 12.6 is rounded to 13.
2) If the digit to be dropped is less than 5, drop the digit and leave the remaining
number unchanged. For example, 12.4 is rounded to 12.
3) If the digit to be dropped is 5, and if any digit following it is not zero, drop the digit
and add 1 to the preceding digit. For example, 12.51 is rounded to 13.
4) If the digit to be dropped is 5 and is followed only by zeroes, drop the digit and add
1 to the preceding digit if it is odd, but leave the remaining unchanged if it is even.
For example, 11.5 is rounded to 12, 12.5 is rounded to 12.

This rule means that if the digit to be dropped is 5 followed only by zeroes, the result is
always rounded to the even digit. The rationale is to avoid bias in rounding: half of the
time we round up, half the time we round down.