Name_________________________________Date________________Period___________

Dimensional Analysis Activity - Making Fudge

Introduction:
Many situations involve using dimensional analysis, such as cooking or baking. Dimensional analysis
is a way of converting measurements into more common units using conversion factors. In this
activity, you will use dimensional analysis to convert measurements into a recipe for making fudge.

Procedure:
1. Use the conversion factors given on the back of this sheet to convert all measurements into
the specified units. Round all numbers to whole numbers and box your final answer.
a. 0.171 tsp of vanilla into drops

b. 1.32 x 10-3 gal of milk into teaspoons

c. 1.50 x 10-5 m3 of butter to tablespoons

d. 6.875 g cocoa to teaspoons

e. 1.375 x 10-2 kg of powdered sugar to tablespoons

2. Measure out the ingredients and mix them in your can.

3. Light the Bunsen burner and heat the mixture over very low heat. Stir until the mixture is
semisolid.
4. Remove your can and let the fudge cool.
5. Find the mass of your square of aluminum foil. _______________g
6. Measure the length and width of your aluminum foil _______cm by _______cm
7. Spoon your fudge out onto your square of aluminum foil and let cool.
8. Once your fudge is cool, find the total mass. _______________g
9. Subtract the mass in step 5 from mass in step 7 to find the mass of fudge made.
_______________g
10. Divide your fudge and enjoy!
11. Before you leave class, wash and dry your can and spoon for the next class. Put all lab
equipment back in good order, clean up your lab table, check sink for trash etc.
Analysis Question
1. Suppose Mr. Thomas wants to make a little extra money by selling your fudge. Assume that
fudge generally sells for 25 cents per gram, each group makes the same mass of fudge that you did,
and that there are 12 groups per class. How much money could Mr. Thomas make if he sold all of
the fudge from his 6 chemistry classes?

Bonus Question: Determine the thickness of your aluminum foil in millimeters (mm) from your data
and what you now know about density of aluminum and the equation for volume of a rectangular
prism. Perform the calculation and show all work.

Conversion Factors:

1 tsp = 5 mL

1 mL = 7 drops

1 gallon = 4 quarts

1 quart = 0.946 L

1 L = 1000 mL

1 cm3 = 1 mL

1 cup = 48 tsp

1 cup = 110 g

1 cup = 200 mL

1 tbsp = 3 tsp

1kg = 1000 g

1 m3 = 1,000,000 cm3