INTRODUCTORY CHEMISTTRY I

CHM 101

INTRODUCTION

PROF. E. A. OLUYEMI
 TOPIC: INTRODUCTION
• COURSE DISCRIPTION:
• Methods of Science:
• Measurement and Precision
• Significant figures
• Errors in quantitative measurements
• Nature of matter
• Elements and compounds
• Types of reactions
 Introduction
• What is Chemistry?
• It is the study of Matter
• Chemistry is the science that deals with the
characteristics properties of a substance that
can be measured and the changes it
undergoes.
• Chemistry is largely an experimental science
that deals with things that can be measured.
 Measurements and Precision
• What is measurement?
• Measurement is the comparison of a physical
quantity with a unit (of measurement) or a
standard.
• A complete measurement is made up of three
parts namely: (1). Figure (2) Unit and (3).
Uncertainty
 Units
• For measurement in the laboratory, S.I. units
are adopted and there are a number of
common devices available for measurement.
• Note: No measurement is complete without a
unit.
 Examples of units
Basic Quantity Device Unit Symbol
Length Meter Rule Metre M
Mass Chemical balance Kilogram kg
Weight Spring Balance Newton N
Electric current Ammeter ampere A
Time Stop clock, watch Second s
Temperature Thermometer Kelvin K
Degree Celcius ˚C

Volume Volumetric flask, Burette, Pipette, Centimeter cube Cm3

Measuring cylinder

Area Square of length squared metre M2

Concentration Molar; Moles/Volume M, mole/dm3

Density Mass/Volume g/cm3

Pressure Force/unit area kg/(m.s2)
 Multiplicity of base units
Prefix Multiplicity Symbol

Kilo 103 k

Mega 106 M

Giga 109 G

deci 10-1 d

Centi- 10-2 c

milli 10-3 m

Micro 10-6 µ

nano 10-9 n

pico 10-12 p
 Figures
• Significant Figures: The number of digits
reported for the value of a measurement or
calculated.
• The numbers recorded in a measurement are
called significant figures.
• Example: 1.86kg = 3 s.f. 35.639 = 5
s.f.
 Rules for counting significant figures:

• All non-zero integers are counted as significant figures: e.g. 1457, 9.12, ….
• All digits are significant except zeros at the beginning of the number.
• Zeros:
• (a) All leading zeros i.e. zeros that precede all the non-zero digits are not
significant, so they are not counted. 9.12; 0.912; 0.00192, all are 3 s.f.
• (b) Captive Zeros: These are zeros that fall between non-zero digits.
They are always counted as significant figures. e.g. 1.008 has 4 s.f.
• (c) Zeros at the right end of a number may or may not be significant.
They are significant if the number is written with a decimal point
• 100 = 1 s.f.; 9.00 = 3 s.f. 100. = 3 s.f.
• Exact numbers – Numbers obtained by counting. They are not obtained by
measuring device. e.g. 10 experiments, 1 in = 2.54 cm. They are assumed
to have unlimited number of significant figures
 Use of Significant figures in calculation
• For Multiplication and Division
• The number of significant figures in the result must be the same
as the number of significant figure in the measurement with the
least number of significant figures:
e.g. 4.56 x 1.4 = 6.384 =🡺 6.4 - 2 s.f.
= 0.0279027 => 0.0279 or 2.79 x 10-2
• In addition and subtraction.
Use the number of decimal places in calculation.
The answer should contain the number of decimal places as the
figure with the least number of decimal places.
e.g. 12.11 + 18.0 + 1.013 = 31.123 => 31.1 to
1 decimal place
 Uncertainties in Measurements
• If a particular measurement is repeated, you may
not obtain precisely the same result because each
measurement is subject to experimental error.
• If you perform a series of identical measurements
of a quantity, the closeness of a set of values
obtained is termed Precision. e.g. titre value:
25.05, 25.10, 25.00, 25.01, 24.95, 25.90.
• Accuracy: is the closeness of a single measurement
to its true value.
 Errors in Measurements
• Repetitions of a scientific measurement under controlled
condition generally do not give identical results.
• Deviation from the correct value is termed errors in
measurement.
• Measurements are accompanied by two kinds of errors:
• Determinate errors – also called Systematic errors: These vary
from one measurement to another. They are due to biases in
the measuring procedures
• They can be accounted for or minimized.
• Indeterminate Errors – also called Random Errors. These are
caused by variability inherent in the process of making
measurements.
 Features of Determinate and Indeterminate errors

Determinate Errors Indeterminate Errors

1. Sources of error can be traced or determined Sources of error cannot be traced or determined

2. Errors can be avoided or compensated for The error cannot be avoided

3. The error is either constant or The errors are random (i.e. small difference) and
systematic and therefore predictable are not predictable.
 Minimisation of Determinate Error

1. Calibration of apparatus and application of

corrections
2. Running of a blank determination
3. Running of a control determination
4. Use of independent method of analysis
5. Running parallel determinations
6. Use of standard addition techniques
7. Use of internal standard techniques
8. Isotopic dilution