APPLICATION OF MATHEMATICS IN

CHEMISTRY
Mathematics is used widely in chemistry and are absolutely necessary to
explore important concepts in chemistry. Without
some basic mathematics skills, these calculations, and therefore chemistry
itself, will be extremely difficult. However, with a basic knowledge of some of
the mathematics that will be used in your chemistry course, you will be well
prepared to deal with the concepts and theories of chemistry.

Mathematics is used in chemistry in many ways, including:

• Analysing experimental data: Algebra and graphs are used to
analyse reaction rate plots and gas laws.

• Predicting reaction rates: Calculus is used to predict and measure

reaction rates in experiments.
• Understanding measurements: Units of measurement are used to
make sense of complicated measurements.
• Understanding crystal structure: Vectors are used to understand
crystal structure.
• Balancing chemical equations: A mathematical exercise that
establishes the relationship between the amounts of reactants and
products in a chemical reaction.
 • Modelling chemical phenomena: Mathematical chemistry is the
study of applying mathematics to model chemical phenomena.
Some areas of research in mathematical chemistry include chemical
graph theory, chemical aspects of group theory, molecular knot theory,
and circuit topology.

IT IS MAINLY USED IN
1. Measuring Matter
2. Dimensional Analysis
3. Density
4. Temperature
1. Measurement matter
Scientists use all kinds of equipment to measure matter. Balances are used
to measure mass while pipettes are used to measure volume.
A).Instruments that Measure Volume
Many academic scientists report their volume measurements with the
millilitre unit. On the other hand, analytical chemists tend to work with much
smaller volumes, and they would use nanoliter and microliter samples in
their laboratory. When considering the industrial realm, scientists work
with larger volumes and would thus employ the liter unit of measurement.

B).Instruments that Measure Mass

Balances are utilized to measure the mass of matter. Typically, high school
and middle schools will use triple beam balances for laboratory activities.
Colleges will rely on digital balances. For larger quantities of materials, top-
loading digital balance are employed.
In the academic laboratory (like Furman University’s), a chemist will
commonly use the gram, or the even smaller unit, the milligram.
Industrial chemists making larger quantities of material would work with
kilograms of materials. Analytical chemists (industrial or academic),
environmental scientists, and toxicologists are typically more concerned
with the smaller units of the metric system.
C).Tools that Measure Length
Length is measured using a metric stick or a metric ruler marked in
millimetres and centimetres. Most devices used to measure length (in the
United States) contain both English and metric markings.
D).SI units
All reported measurements must include an appropriate unit of
measurement. To say that a substance has “a mass of 10” does not tell
whether the mass was measured in grams, pounds, tons, or some other unit.
For example, a nurse giving morphine to a patient needs to be specific in the
unit dosages. To establish worldwide standards for the consistent
measurement of significant physical and chemical properties, an
international body called the General Conference on Weights and
Measures devised the System International unites (or SI).
The International System of Units is based on metric units and requires
that measurements be expressed in decimal form.
2. Dimensional analysis
Conversion factors:
Using negative exponents (see above) is the traditional way to memorize
the metric system. Many students who have been taught outside of the
United States approach the metric system this way. For their conversion
factors, students who have been taught the metric system in the United
States tend to use positive exponents. Either method is fine, just pick one
way and use it consistently.

Two different ways to memorize the metric systems (be sure to know all
bolded conversion factors listed in Section 2.1)

1 gigabase = 1 x109 base 1

megabase = 1x106 base 1
kilobase = 1x103 base
1 decease = 1x10-1 base or 1x101 decibase = 1 base
1 centibase = 1x10-2 base or 1x102 centibase = 1 base 1
millibase = 1x10-3 base or 1x103 millibase = 1 base
1 microbase = 1x10-6 base or 1x106 microbase = 1 base 1
nanobase = 1x10-9 base or 1x109 nanobase = 1 base 1
picobase = 1x10-12 base or 1x1012 picobase = 1 base
Example :1
A).Convert 35.9 kL to litres.
B).Convert 555 nm to meters.
Solution
a).We will use the fact that 1 kL = 1,000 L. Of the two conversion factors
that can be defined, the one that will work is 1000L/ 1kL. Applying this
conversion factor, we get:

b).We will use the fact that 1 nm = 1/1,000,000,000 m, which we will rewrite as
1,000,000,000 nm = 1 m, or 109 nm = 1 m. Of the two
possible conversion factors, the appropriate one has the nm unit in the
denominator:

Applying this conversion factor, we get

In the final step, we expressed the answer in scientific

 2. Kathleen Hsu Barron (Furman University, Class of 2011) is
exploring Switzerland with her husband Patrick Barron (Furman
University, Class of 2011). The sign she is pointing to is a
typical speed in km/hr. Convert this distance to miles/hr and
feet/hr.

Solution:
Again, this problem is a multi-step problem. There are multiple ways that one
could proceed to solve this problem. With the conversion factors in this
course, the suggested round would be miles ⇒
kilometers ⇒ meters ⇒ centimeters ⇒ inches ⇒ feet. Another method could
utilize miles ⇒ feet.

18.6 miles/hr, 9.8 x 104 ft/hr

3. Density

Density is a physical property that is defined as a substance’s mass

divided by its volume. Density is usually a measured property of a
substance, so its numerical value affects the
significant figures in a calculation. Notice that density is
defined in terms of two dissimilar units, mass and volume. That means
that density overall has derived units, just like velocity.
Density is a physical property that is defined as a substance’s mass
divided by its volume:

Density is usually a measured property of a substance, so its

numerical value affects the significant figures in a calculation. Notice
that density is defined in terms of two dissimilar units, mass and
volume. That means that density overall has derived units, just like
velocity. Common units for density include g/mL, g/cm3, g/L, kg/L,
and even kg/m3.
Example:3

1).What is the mass of 44.6 mL of mercury?

Solution:

Remember to cross multiply here in order to isolate variable. Then,

report answer with correct units.

The mass of the mercury is 607 g.

4). Temperature
One of the fundamental quantities in science is temperature.
Temperature is a measure of the average amount of energy of motion,
or kinetic energy, a system contains. Temperatures are expressed using
scales that use units called degrees, and there are several temperature
scales in use. In the United States, the commonly used temperature
scale is the Fahrenheit scale (symbolized by °F and spoken as
“degrees Fahrenheit”).
Temperature Scales
One of the fundamental quantities in science is temperature, which is a
measure of the average amount of energy of motion, or kinetic energy, a
system contains. Temperatures are
expressed using scales that use units called degrees. There are three
scales used for reporting temperatures.
Compares the three temperature scales.

Science also uses other scales to express temperature. For example,

the Celsius scale (symbolized by °C and spoken as “degrees
Celsius”) defines 0°C as the freezing point of water and 100 °C as the
boiling point of water. This scale is divided into 100 divisions between
these two landmarks and extended higher and lower as well.
By comparing the Fahrenheit and Celsius scales, a conversion
between the two scales can be determined:

The Science of Cryogenics

Cryogenics is branch of physics that incorporates the
production and effects of substances at temperatures ranging between -
150ºC to -273°C. In the late 1870’s, cryogenic
science began with the cooling of gaseous oxygen. At -183ºC, O2
condensed from a clear gas into a blue liquid. Changing the state of
oxygen enables it to be transported easier. Both the
aircraft and medical industries rely on the liquid form of this molecule
to provide breathable oxygen for pilots, travelers, and patients.
Example:4

1).What is 98.6°F in degrees Celsius? What is

25.0°C in degrees Fahrenheit?
Solution:

a.

b.

Chemistry Math Problems

These are the topics for which one cannot be prepared without a
foundation in chemistry. Taking measurements, performing
dimensional analysis, determining temperature, density, and
so on are all things that cannot be done without math.3 Most of you are
probably aware
that scientists use a variety of equipment to measure matter, and these
measurements are crucial because minor errors in measurements
can have a significant impact on the research they are conducting.

Applied Math

These are concepts and techniques that science students, particularly

those studying chemistry, can use to apply to various scientific
concepts.
Basic trigonometry, algebra, graphing, calculus, and geometry are all
concepts that can help with understanding and working on various
chemistry concepts.2 It improves quantitative skills while also
assisting with the conceptual understanding of
derivatives and integrals, which are used in a variety of
chemistry studies.
Applied math is crucial in both organic and physical chemistry, and it
extends far beyond general chemistry.

Operators
Various operators, such as the Delta, Sigma, and Pi operators, are
commonly used in chemistry to perform various calculations.
 For example, if the optical absorbance of a reaction must be calculated,
the Delta operators must be calculated.
These are just a few examples of how math is used in chemistry and
what types of math are used to learn various chemistry concepts. Math
plays a fundamental role in fundamental science, particularly
chemistry, as was
emphasized throughout this blog.

The kind of math background that children have will give them an edge
in graduate programs in math, chemistry, applied math, statistics,
crystallography, biochemistry, and molecular biology, among others.
 CONCLUSION

Chemists use math in many ways, but one of the most common is
probably in balancing the equation of a chemical reaction. If you
want to create a chemical by mixing together raw materials or other
chemicals, you need to figure out how much can be produced with
how much of each substance to avoid wasting materials.
Algebra is widely used in chemistry for calculating the amount of
reagents needed for reaction and for calculating yields

Chemists need a good understanding of basic mathematical concepts

including numerical calculations, algebraic functions and data
handling skills
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