UNITS OF

MEASURE
GENERAL CHEMISTRY 1
UNITS OF MEASURE
• Chemistry is a quantitative science. Amounts of
substances and energies must always be expressed in
numbers and units (in order to make some sense of
what you are talking about).
• You should also develop a sensation about quantities
every time you encounter them; you should be familiar
with the name, prefix, and symbol used for various
quantities.
UNITS OF MEASURE
As the four examples below can attest, small errors in
these unit systems can harbor massive ramifications.
1. The Mars Climate Orbiter: A Multimillion Dollar
Mistake
2. NASA's Constellation Program: A Possible Casualty of
Metric/Imperial Conversions
3. Disneyland Tokyo: A Bumpy Blunder
4. Air Canada Flight 143: Unit-Caused Fuel Shortage
METRIC
PREFIXES
SI Units
• The International System of Units (SI), commonly
known as the metric system, is the international
standard for measurement.
• SI units play a vital role in scientific and
technological research and development.
• It is made up of 7 base units which are used for
defining 22 derived units. The SI units can be
expressed either as standard multiple or as
fractional quantities.
 The SI contains seven BASE UNITS that
BASE each represent a different kind of physical
UNITS quantity. These are commonly used as a
convention.
PHYSICAL QUANTITY NAME OF UNIT ABBREVIATION
Mass Kilogram kg
Length Meter m
Time Second s
Temperature Kelvin K
Amount of Substance Mole mol
Electric Current Ampere A
Luminous Intensity Candela cd
DERIVED
Derived Units are created by mathematical
relationships between other Base Units
UNITS and are expressed in a combination of
fundamental and base quantities. Some
examples are given below.

DERIVED
NAME ABBREVIATION
QUANTITY
2
Area Square Meter m
3
Volume Cubic Meter m
3
Mass Density Kilogram Per Cubic Meter kg/m
3
Specific Volume Cubic Meter Per Kilogram m /kg
o
Celsius Temperature degree Celsius C
 Special Symbols of Some SI Units
Quantity Unit Explanation
Force N Newton = kg m s-2
-2
Pressure Pa Pascal = N m
Energy J Joule = N.m
Electric charge C Coulomb = A.s
Electric potential V Volt = J/C
Energy J Joule = N.m
Electric charge C Coulomb = A s
Electric potential V 1 V = 1 J/C
Power watt 1 watt = 1 J/s
Uncertainty in
Measurement
Random error
• The uncertainty (experimental error) that arises
from a scale reading
• Also called indeterminate error, results from the
effects of uncontrolled variables in the
measurement
• Always present and cannot be corrected
Systematic error
• may come from a flaw in the equipment used or
the design of an experiment
• Also called determinate error, results from the
effects of uncontrolled variables in the
measurement
• Can be discovered and corrected, although this
can be difficult.
Percent error
• Error that occurs in measurement is often
expressed as a percent error

𝒕𝒓𝒖𝒆 𝒗𝒂𝒍𝒖𝒆(𝒆𝒙𝒑𝒆𝒓𝒊𝒎𝒆𝒏𝒕𝒂𝒍 𝒗𝒂𝒍𝒖𝒆

% 𝒆𝒓𝒓𝒐𝒓 = ×𝟏𝟎𝟎
𝒕𝒓𝒖𝒆 𝒗𝒂𝒍𝒖𝒆
 Rules for
Counting
Significant
Figures
Significant Figures
•1. All nonzero digits are significant.

Ex: 135,246 (6 SF)

001 (1 SF)
Significant Figures
•2. Zeros between nonzero digits are
significant.
Ex: 105 (3 SF)
0105 (3 SF)
Significant Figures
•3. Zeros to the left of the first
nonzero digits are NOT significant.
Ex: 00135 (3 SF)
0.09755 (4 SF)
Significant Figures
•4. If the number is less than 1, then
only the zeros at the end of the
number and the zero between
nonzero digits are significant.
Ex: 0.505400 (6 SF)
0.000870 (3 SF)
Significant Figures
•5. If the number is greater than 1,
then all the zeros written to the right
of the decimal point are significant.
Ex: 17.00 (4 SF)
1,980.00 (6 SF)
Significant Figures
•6. For numbers with trailing zeros
that do not contain a decimal point,
the zeros may or may NOT be
significant.
To correct this, express the number
in a scientific notation form.
Significant Figures
Ex: 400 (1 SF)
!
4×10 (1 SF)
!
4.0×10 (2 SF)
!
4.00×10 (3 SF)
Significant Figures
•7. Zeros used as place holders (i.e. x
10-3) in a large number without a
decimal point are NOT significant.
"
Ex: 1.234×10 (4 SF)
 Rules for Significant
Figures in Fundamental
Operations
Significant Figures
1. In addition and subtraction, the
answer must have the same number
of decimal places as the measured
number with the least number of
decimal places.
Significant Figures
Ex: Three sticks have lengths of 5.68
m, 0.02 m, and 4.3005 m
respectively. What is the total length
of the three sticks?
Solution:

since 5.68 and 0.02 have only 2

decimal places.
Significant Figures
Ex: A flask with water has a mass of
93.5 g. When a rubber stopper was
put on the flask, the total mass
becomes 124.876 g. What is the mass
of the rubber stopper?
Solution:

since 93.5 has only 1 decimal place.

Significant Figures
2. In multiplication and division,
the answer must have the same
number of significant figures as the
measured number with the lowest
number of significant figures.
Significant Figures
Ex: A student measured the length,
width, and height of a block of wood
as 3.388 m, 3.12 m, and 4.0 m,
respectively. What is the volume of
the wood?
Solution:

Since 4.0 has only 2 significant

figures.
Significant Figures
Ex: An object has a mass of 38.05 kg
and a volume of 36.5 cm3. What
is the density of the object?
Solution:

Since 36.5 has only 3 significant

figures.
 Rules in
Rounding Off
Rounding Off
•Rounding off is the process of
removing insignificant digits from
calculated numbers.
•The following rules should be applied
to round off values to the correct
number of digits.
Rounding Off
1. For a series of calculations, carry
the extra digits through to the final
result, then, round off.
Rounding Off
2. If the first digit to be deleted is
(a) 5 or greater, the last retained
figure is increased by one.
Ex: The number 3.3734 becomes 3.4
when rounded to two significant
figures.
Rounding Off
2. If the first digit to be deleted is
(b) 4 or less, the last retained figure
is retained.
Ex: The number 3.127 becomes 3.1
when rounded to two significant
figures.
Conversion of
Units: The
Dimensional
Analysis
Conversion of Units: The Dimensional
Analysis
Dimensional analysis is a process in
which a conversion factor written in a
form of ratio is used to change the
units given in the data to the units
desired.
Conversion of Units: The Dimensional
Analysis

Given Quantity × Conversion Factor (in a form of ratio) = Desired Quantity

Conversion of Units: The Dimensional
Analysis
The following are the steps to be
followed in doing dimensional
analysis.
1. Write the unknown quantity that is
sought, including the units.
Conversion of Units: The Dimensional
Analysis
2. Write all known conversion factors
needed.
Conversion of Units: The Dimensional
Analysis
3. Begin with what is known and
then, multiply it by the identified
conversion factor, cancelling similar
units to get the unknown units.
Temperature
• Temperature is usually measured in Celsius (although
the U.S. still uses Fahrenheit), but is often converted to
for the absolute Kelvin scale for many chemistry
problems.
𝟗
For Celsius to Fahrenheit: °𝑭 = 𝟓 °𝑪 + 𝟑𝟐
𝟓
For Fahrenheit to Celsius: °𝑪 = °𝑭 − 𝟑𝟐
𝟗
For Celsius to Kelvin: 𝑲 = °𝑪 + 𝟐𝟕𝟑. 𝟏𝟓
Temperature

• Reference Points:
• Melting Point of ice is 0° C = 32° F
• Boiling Point of water is 100° C = 212° F
• The Kelvin scale does not use the degree symbol
(°) and only K, which can only be positive since
it is an absolute scale
Mass

• Mass is usually measured by a sensitive balance

machine
• Some useful conversion factors:
• 1 kg = 2.2 lb
• (Remember that 1 kg = 1000 grams)
• 1 oz = 28.35 g
Length

• The U.S. usually makes measurements in inches

and feet, but the SI system prefers meters as the
unit for length.
• Some useful conversion factors:
• 1 m = 3.281 ft
• 1 in = 2.54 cm
• 1 mile = 1.609 km
Volume

• SI units commonly uses derived units for Volume

such as meters cubed to liters.
• Some useful conversion factors:
• 1 cm3 = 1 mL
• 1000 cm3 = 1 L = 1 dm3
• 1 gal = 3.785 L
Energy

• 1 calorie = 4.184 Joules

Amount of Substance

• 1 mole = 6.022 x 1023 molecules/atoms

• (Avogadro's number)
Example 1
The lemon juice drink
contains 500.0 mg of
Vitamin C. Express
the Vitamin C content
in grams.
Example 1
ANSWER: The mass
of Vitamin C in the
lemon juice drink is
0.500 g.
Example 2
A fitness drink
measures 0.300 L.
Express the
volume in mL.
Example 2
ANSWER: The
volume of the
fitness drink is 300
mL.
Example 3
What is the equivalent of
750 mL red cane vinegar
in gallons?
Example 3
ANSWER: 750 mL red
cane vinegar is equal to
0.198 gal
Problems

• Convert to the appropriate SI Units:

1. 1 Day 4 Hours and 20 Minutes
2. 10.8 Lbs.
3. 58.8 Ft.
4. 10,288 grams
Problems

• Convert to the appropriate SI Units:

5. 128,968,888 mL
6. 1.4 Degrees Celsius
7. 16.13 Cal
8. 18,888,888 km
Worded Problems

1. Brining is done to add moisture and marinate

lean meat. Before cooking the meat, it is
marinated in a salt and water mixture for hours or
days. The brine is made by dissolving 227 g of salt
to 3 780 L of water. Express the unit of salt in
pounds.
ANS: 0.499 lb
Worded Problems

2. A can of carrot juice contains 235 mL juice

drink. Convert the volume of the juice drink into
quarts.

ANS: 0.4248 qt
Worded Problems

3. The biggest Ferris wheel in Tagaytay City, the

Sky Eye, lifts the riders 63.0 m above the ground.
What is the height of the Sky Eye in feet?

ANS: 207 ft
Worded Problems

4. According to the World Health Organization

(WHO), keeping sucrose (C12H22O11) intake to less
than 25 grams per day helps prevent weight gain
and various diseases like obesity, type II diabetes,
and heart disease. Express 25 grams per day into
milligrams per day.
ANS: 2.5 x 104 mg / day
Worded Problems

5. The largest snake ever reported was a 32.0-foot

long reticulated python, caught in Penang,
Malaysia. According to Guinness World Records, it
is longer than the Medusa, the longest captive on
record. What is the length of the said snake in
inches?
ANS: 384 in
Summary of
Key Concepts
Summary

1. Measurement is a process of
determining the extent of the
dimensions, quantity, or extent of
something.
Summary

2. The most convenient system of units

is the International System of Units (SI).
The seven base units are the length (m),
mass (kg), time (s), electric current, (A),
temperature (K), amount of substance
(mol), and luminous intensity (cd).
Summary

3. A measured quantity contains some

digits that are exactly known and one
digit that is estimated. The estimated
digit produces the uncertainty in
measurement.
Summary

4. Uncertainty in measurement can also

be the effects of uncontrolled variables
in the measurement called the random
errors; and from a flaw in the equipment
or the design of an experiment called
the systematic error.
Summary

5. Percent error is the absolute value of

the difference between the true value
and the experimental value divided by
the true value.
𝒕𝒓𝒖𝒆 𝒗𝒂𝒍𝒖𝒆(𝒆𝒙𝒑𝒆𝒓𝒊𝒎𝒆𝒏𝒕𝒂𝒍 𝒗𝒂𝒍𝒖𝒆
% 𝒆𝒓𝒓𝒐𝒓 = ×𝟏𝟎𝟎
𝒕𝒓𝒖𝒆 𝒗𝒂𝒍𝒖𝒆
Summary

6. Precision refers to how the values

agree closely with one another, while
accuracy tells how close a measured
value is to the "true" value.
Summary

7. Significant figures are the digits in any

measurement that are known with
certainty, plus one digit which is
uncertain.
Summary

8. Scientific notation is a system in which

an ordinary decimal number is
expressed as the product of a number
between 1 and 10 times 10 raised to a
power. It is expressed as N × 10n.
Summary

9. Dimensional analysis is a process in

which a conversion factor which is
written in a form of ratio is used to
change the units given in the data to the
units desired.
Summary
10. Measurements frequently used in chemistry
include mass, volume, temperature, and
density. Mass is the quantity of matter in the
object; volume is the amount of space
occupied by a substance; temperature tells
how hot or cold the object is; and density is the
ratio of the mass of an object to the volume
occupied by that object.
Reference
Rodil, M.S.P. (2017). Conceptual Science and Beyond: General Chemistry 1 (A
Worktext for Senior High School). Brilliant Creations Publishing, Inc.