CHAPTER 2

Factor, Unit and Symbols

• Method of calculation utilizing a knowledge of units.
• Given units can be multiplied or divided to give the
desired units.
• Conversion factors are used to manipulate units:
• Desired unit = given unit  (conversion factor)
• The conversion factors are simple ratios:

desired unit
Conversion factor 
given unit
 Using Two or More Conversion Factors

• In dimensional analysis always ask three questions:

• What data are we given?
• What quantity do we need?
• What conversion factors are available to take us
from what we are given to what we need?
 Using Two or More Conversion Factors
• Example to convert length in meters to length in
inches:

Number of in  number of m   conversion m  cm  

conversion cm  in 
100 cm 1 in
Number of in  number of m   
m 2.54 cm
• A person’s height is measured to be 67.50 in.
What is this height in centimeters?
Number of m  number of in  conversion in  cm  Number of in  number of m   conversion m  cm  
conversion cm  m  conversion cm  in 
2.54 cm 0.01m 100 cm 1 in
Number of m  67.5 in   Number of in  number of m   
1 in 1 cm m 2.54 cm

• Perform the following conversions: (a) 2 days to s;

(b) 20 Kg to g.
 Factor-Label Method of Solving Problems

1. Determine which unit conversion factor(s) are needed

2. Carry units through calculation
3. If all units cancel except for the desired unit(s), then the
problem was solved correctly.

How many mL are in 1.63 L?

1 L = 1000 mL

1000 mL
1.63 L x = 1630 mL
1L
1L L 2
1.63 L x = 0.001630
1000 mL mL
 The speed of sound in air is about 343 m/s. What is
this speed in miles per hour?

meters to miles
seconds to hours

1 mi = 1609 m 1 min = 60 s 1 hour = 60 min

343 m/s * 1mi/ 1609m =(343/1609) mi/s

(343/1609) mi/s 60s/1min= (343*60/1609)mi/min

(343*60/1609)mi/min 60min/1h=(343*60*60/1609) mi/h

 Exponential Numbers
• Scientists handle large and small numbers
using exponential notation. A number
written in this format has the following
parts:
 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

1.8
 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
2. Combine N1 and N2 4.31 x 104 + 0.39 x 104 =
3. The exponent, n, remains 4.70 x 104
the same

1.8
 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 8.5 x 104 ÷ 5.0 x 109 =

1. Divide N1 and N2 (8.5 ÷ 5.0) x 104-9 =
2. Subtract exponents n1 and n2 1.7 x 10-5

1.8
 SI Units

Selected Prefixes used in SI System

 SI Units
• There are two types of units:
– fundamental (or base) units;
– derived units.
• There are 7 base units in the SI system.
• Metre – Length
• Kilogram – Mass
• Second – Time
• Ampere – Electric Current
• Mole – Amount of Substance
• Candella – Luminous Intensity (how bright a light source is)
• Kelvin – Temperature
Base SI Units
• What is the name given to the unit that equals (a)
10-9 grams; (b) 10-6 second; (c) 10-3 meter

• (a) Nano gram (b) micro second (c) milli meter

• What fraction of a meter is a nanometer?

• 10-9 meter
 SI Units
• Note the SI unit for length is the meter (m) whereas
the SI unit for mass is the kilogram (kg).
– 1 kg weighs 2.2046 lb.

Temperature
There are three temperature scales:
• Kelvin Scale
– Used in science.
– Same temperature increment as Celsius scale.
– Lowest temperature possible (absolute zero) is zero Kelvin.
– Absolute zero: 0 K = -273.15 oC.
 Temperature
• Celsius Scale
– Also used in science.
– Water freezes at 0 oC and boils at 100 oC.
– To convert: K = oC + 273.15.
• Fahrenheit Scale
– Not generally used in science.
– Water freezes at 32 oF and boils at 212 oF.
– To convert:
5 9
C  F - 32  F  C   32
9 5
Temperature
• Make the following temperature conversions: (a)
68 oF to oC; (b) -36.7 oC to oF

5 9
C  F - 32  F  C   32
9 5
• All scientific measures are subject to error.
• These errors are reflected in the number of figures
reported for the measurement.
• These errors are also reflected in the observation
that two successive measures of the same quantity
are different.
Precision and Accuracy
• Measurements that are close to the “correct” value
are accurate.
• Measurements that are close to each other are
precise.
_____________ – how close a measurement is to the true value
__________ – how close a set of measurements are to each other

accurate precise not accurate

& but &
precise not accurate not precise

1.8
 Significant Figures
• The number of digits reported in a measurement
reflect the accuracy of the measurement and the
precision of the measuring device.
• All the figures known with certainty plus one extra
figure are called significant figures.
• In any calculation, the results are reported to the
fewest significant figures (for multiplication and
division) or fewest decimal places (addition and
subtraction).
 Significant Figures
• Non-zero numbers are always significant.
• Zeros between non-zero numbers are always
significant.
• Zeros before the first non-zero digit are not
significant. (Example: 0.0003 has one significant
figure.)
• Zeros at the end of the number after a decimal place
are significant.
• Zeros at the end of a number before a decimal place
are ambiguous (e.g. 10,300 g).
 Significant Figures
•Any digit that is not zero is significant
1.234 kg 4 significant figures
•Zeros between nonzero digits are significant
606 m 3 significant figures
•Zeros to the left of the first nonzero digit are not significant
0.08 L 1 significant figure
•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
•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

1.8
 How many significant figures are in
each of the following measurements?
24 mL

3001 g

0.0320 m3

6.4 x 104 molecules

560 kg

1.8
 Significant Figures
Addition or Subtraction report to the fewest decimal places

The answer cannot have more digits to the right of the

decimal point than any of the original numbers.
89.332
+1.1 one significant figure after decimal point
90.432 round off to 90.4

3.70 two significant figures after decimal point

-2.9133
0.7867 round off to 0.79

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 Significant Figures
Multiplication or Division report to the fewest significant figures
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

6.8 ÷ 112.04 = 0.0606926= 0.061

2 sig figs round to

2 sig figs
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 Significant Figures
Exact Numbers
Numbers from definitions or numbers of objects are
considered to have an infinite number of significant figures

The average of three measured lengths; 6.64, 6.68 and 6.70?

6.64 + 6.68 + 6.70

= 6.67333 = 6.67 = 7
3

Because 3 is an exact number

1.8