Chapter 2a

Measurements and
Calculations
 Compiled by:

Ms. Cristy O. Elmido

Chapter 2
Table of Contents

2.1 Scientific Notation

2.2 Units
2.3 Measurements of Length, Volume, and Mass
2.4 Uncertainty in Measurement
2.5 Significant Figures

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Section 2.1
Scientific Notation

Measurement
• Quantitative observation.
• Has 2 parts – number and
unit.
 Number tells
comparison.
 Unit tells scale.

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Section 2.1
Scientific Notation

• Technique used to express very large or very

small numbers.
• Expresses a number as a product of a number
between 1 and 10 and the appropriate power
of 10.

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Section 2.1
Scientific Notation

Using Scientific Notation

• Any number can be represented as the
product of a number between 1 and 10 and a
power of 10 (either positive or negative).
• The power of 10 depends on the number of
places the decimal point is moved and in
which direction.

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Section 2.1
Scientific Notation

Using Scientific Notation

• The number of places the decimal point is
moved determines the power of 10. The
direction of the move determines whether the
power of 10 is positive or negative.

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Section 2.1
Scientific Notation

Using Scientific Notation

• If the decimal point is moved to the left, the
power of 10 is positive.
345 = 3.45 × 102 very large number
• If the decimal point is moved to the right, the
power of 10 is negative.
0.0671 = 6.71 × 10–2 very small number

In Webassign homework use format:

345 = 3.45e02
0.0671 = 6.71e-02
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Section 2.1
Scientific Notation

Concept Check

Which of the following correctly expresses

7,882 in scientific notation?

a) 7.882 × 104
b) 788.2 × 103
c) 7.882 × 103
d) 7.882 × 10–3

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Section 2.1
Scientific Notation

Concept Check

Which of the following correctly expresses

0.0000496 in scientific notation?

a) 4.96 × 10–5
b) 4.96 × 10–6
c) 4.96 × 10–7
d) 496 × 107

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Section 2.1
Scientific Notation

Precision vs. Accuracy

good precision poor precision

good precision
poor accuracy good accuracy

good accuracy

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Section 2.1
Scientific Notation

Measurement Accuracy
How long is this line?

There is no such thing as a totally accurate measurement!

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Section 2.2
Units

Nature of Measurement

Measurement
• Quantitative observation consisting of two parts.
 number
 scale (unit)
• Examples
 20 grams
 6.63 × 10–34 joule·seconds

If a CHP asks you what do you have and you answer I have 3 
kilos, you may go to jail.  You should have said I have 3 kg of 
doughnuts for my chemistry instructor.
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Section 2.1
lll
Scientific Notation

Measurement in Chemistry
Length Mass Volume Time
meter gram Liter second
SI System

Km=1000m Kg=1000g KL=1000L 1min=60sec

100cm=1m 1000mg=1 g 1000mL=1L 60min=1hr
http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/52746223/t https://www.kickstarter.com/projec
1000mm=1m he-state-of-the-unit-the-kilogram-documentary-
fil
ts/52746223/the-state-of-the-unit-
the-kilogram-documentary-fil

Foot pound gallon second

British

12in=1ft 16oz=1 lb 4qt=1gal (same)

3ft=1yd 2000 lb=1 ton 2pts=1qt
5280ft=1mile Return to TOC
Section 2.1
Scientific Notation

Conversion between British and SI Units

2.54 cm = 1 in
454 g = 1 lb

1 (cm)3 = 1 cc = 1 ml = 1 gwater
1.06 qt = 1 L
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Section 2.2
Units

Prefixes Used in the SI System

• Prefixes are used to change the size of the unit.

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Section 2.3
Measurements of Length, Volume, and Mass

Length
• Fundamental SI unit of length is the meter.

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Section 2.3
Measurements of Length, Volume, and Mass

Volume
• Measure of the amount
of 3-D space occupied
by a substance.
• SI unit = cubic meter
(m3)
• Commonly measure
solid volume in cm3.
• 1 mL = 1 cm3
• 1 L = 1 dm3

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Section 2.3
Measurements of Length, Volume, and Mass

Mass
• Measure of the amount
of matter present in an
object.
• SI unit = kilogram (kg)
• 1 kg = 2.2046 lbs
• 1 lb = 453.59 g

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 Section 2.3
Measurements of Length, Volume, and Mass

Concept Check

Choose the statement(s) that contain improper

use(s) of commonly used units (doesn’t make
sense)?

 A gallon of milk is equal to about 4 L of milk.

 A 200-lb man has a mass of about 90 kg.
 A basketball player has a height of 7 m tall.
 A nickel is 6.5 cm thick.
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Section 2.4
Uncertainty in Measurement

• A digit that must be estimated is called

uncertain.
• A measurement always has some degree of
uncertainty.
• Record the certain digits and the first uncertain
digit (the estimated number).

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 Section 2.4
Uncertainty in Measurement
Measurement of Length Using a Ruler
• The length of the pin occurs at about 2.85 cm.
 Certain digits: 2.85 Estimate between smallest
 Uncertain digit: 2.85 division!

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 Section 2.4
Uncertainty in Measurement

Significant Figures

• Numbers that measure or contribute to our accuracy.

• The more significant figures we have the more accurate
our measurement.
• Significant figures are determined by our measurement
device or technique.

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Section 2.4
Uncertainty in Measurement
Rules of Determining the Number of Significant
Figures
1. All non-zero digits are significant.

234 = 3 sig figs 1.333 = 4 sig figs 1,234.2 = 5 sig figs

2. All zeros between non-zero digits are significant.

203 = 3 sig figs 1.003 = 4 sig figs 1,030.2 = 5 sig figs

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Section 2.4
Uncertainty in Measurement
Rules of Determining the Number of Significant
Figures

3. All zeros to the right of the decimal and to the right of

the last non-zero digit are significant.

2.30 = 3 sig figs 1.000 = 4 sig figs 3.4500 = 5 sig figs

4. All zeros to the left of the first non-zero digit are NOT
significant.

0.0200 = 3 sig figs 0.1220 = 4 sig figs

0.000000012210 = 5 sig figs

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Section 2.4
Uncertainty in Measurement
Rules of Determining the Number of Significant
Figures

5. Zeros to the right of the first non-zero digit and to the

left of the decimal may or may not be significant.
They must be written in scientific notation.

2300 = 2.3 x 103 or 2.30 x 103 or 2.300 x 103

2 sig figs 3 sig figs 4 sig figs

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Section 2.4
Uncertainty in Measurement
Rules of Determining the Number of Significant
Figures

6. Some numbers have infinite significant figures or are

exact numbers.

233 people 14 cats (unless in biology lab)

7 cars on the highway 36 schools in town

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Section 2.4
Uncertainty in Measurement
How many significant figures are in each of the
following?
1) 23.34 4 significant figures

2) 21.003 5 significant figures

3) .0003030 4 significant figures

4) 210 2 or 3 significant figures

5) 200 students infinite significant figures

6) 3000 1, 2, 3, or 4 significant figures

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Section 2.4
Uncertainty in Measurement

Chapter 2b

Measurements and
Calculations

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Section 2.4
Uncertainty in Measurement

2.5 Significant Figures

2.6 Problem Solving and Dimensional Analysis
2.7 Temperature Conversions: An Approach to
Problem Solving
2.8 Density

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Section 2.4
Uncertainty in Measurement

Using Significant Figures in Calculations

Addition and Subtraction

1. Take out of scientific notation.
2. Line up the decimals.
3. Add or subtract.
4. Round off to first full column or round off to the same
number of decimal places as the least number of decimal
places in the data.

23.345 +14.5 + 0.523 = ?

23.345
14.5
+ 0.523
38.368 = 38.4 or three significant figures
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Section 2.4
Uncertainty in Measurement

Using Significant Figures in Calculations

Multiplication and Division

1. Do the multiplication or division.
2. Round answer off to the same number of
significant figures as the least number in the
data.

(23.345)(14.5)(0.523) = ? 177.0368075

= 177 or three significant figures

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Section 2.5
Significant Figures

Rules for Rounding Off

1. If the digit to be removed is less than 5, the
preceding digit stays the same.
 5.64 rounds to 5.6 (if final result to 2 sig figs)

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Section 2.5
Significant Figures

Rules for Rounding Off

1. If the digit to be removed is equal to or greater
than 5, the preceding digit is increased by 1.
 5.64 rounds to 5.6 (if final result to 2 sig figs)
 3.861 rounds to 3.9 (if final result to 2 sig figs)

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Section 2.5
Significant Figures

Rules for Rounding Off

2. In a series of calculations, do within the
parenthesis first and determine the significant
figures and use that answer to calculate and
find the significant figures after the
multiplication and/or division.

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Section 2.5
Significant Figures

Concept Check

You have water in each graduated

cylinder shown. You then add both
samples to a beaker (assume that
all of the liquid is transferred).

How would you write the number

describing the total volume?
3.08 mL
What limits the precision of the
total volume?
2.80 1st graduated cylinder

+ .280 2ndgraduated cylinder

3.080 or 3.08 ml Return to TOC
Section 2.6
Problem Solving and Dimensional Analysis

Example #1

A golfer putted a golf ball 6.8 ft across a green. How

many inches does this represent?

• To convert from one unit to another, use the

equivalence statement that relates the two units.
1 ft = 12 in
The two unit factors are:
1 ft 12 in
and
12 in 1 ft

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 Section 2.6
Problem Solving and Dimensional Analysis

Example #1

A golfer putted a golf ball 6.8 ft across a green. How

many inches does this represent?

• Choose the appropriate conversion factor by looking at

the direction of the required change (make sure the
unwanted units cancel).

12 in
6.8 ft � = in
1 ft

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 Section 2.6
Problem Solving and Dimensional Analysis

Example #1

A golfer putted a golf ball 6.8 ft across a green. How

many inches does this represent?

• Multiply the quantity to be converted by the conversion

factor to give the quantity with the desired units.

12 in
6.8 ft � = 82 in
1 ft

• Correct sig figs? Does my answer make sense?

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Section 2.6
Problem Solving and Dimensional Analysis

Example #2

An iron sample has a mass of 4.50 lb. What is the

mass of this sample in grams?
(1 kg = 2.2046 lbs; 1 kg = 1000 g)

1 kg 1000 g
4.50 lbs � � = 2.04 �103 g
2.2046 lbs 1 kg

454 g
OR 4.50 lbs x -------------- = 2043g = 2.04x10 3 g
1 lb

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Section 2.6
Problem Solving and Dimensional Analysis

Concept Check

What data would you need to estimate the money you

would spend on gasoline to drive your car from New York
to Los Angeles? Provide estimates of values and a
sample calculation.
Sample Answer:
Distance between New York and Los Angeles: 2500 miles
Average gas mileage: 25 miles per gallon
Average cost of gasoline: $3.25 per gallon

1 gal $3.25
2500 mi � � = $325 = $(3.3x102)
25 mi 1 gal
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Section 2.7
Temperature Conversions: An Approach to Problem Solving

Three Systems for Measuring Temperature

• Fahrenheit
• Celsius Gabriel Fahrenheit
• Kelvin

Lord Kelvin

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 Section 2.7
Temperature Conversions: An Approach to Problem Solving

The Three Major Temperature Scales

F = 1.8C + 32
C = (F-32)/1.8
K = C + 273
What is 35oC in oF? 95 oF

What is 90oF in oC? 32oC

What is 100K in oC? -173oC

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Section 2.7
Temperature Conversions: An Approach to Problem Solving

Exercise

The normal body temperature for a dog is

approximately 102oF. What is this equivalent to
on the Kelvin temperature scale?
a) 373 K
b) 312 K
c) 289 K
d) 202 K
C = (F-32)/1.8 = (102-32)/1.80 = 38.9oC
K = C + 273 = 38.9 + 273 = 312 K
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 Section 2.7
Temperature Conversions: An Approach to Problem Solving

Exercise

At what temperature does C = F?

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 Section 2.7
Temperature Conversions: An Approach to Problem Solving

Solution

• Since °C equals °F, they both should be the same value

(designated as variable x).
• Use one of the conversion equations such as:

TC =o
(T F
o - 32 )
1.80

• Substitute in the value of x for both T°C and T°F. Solve

for x.

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 Section 2.7
Temperature Conversions: An Approach to Problem Solving

Solution

(T F o - 32 ) x=
(x - 32 )
TC =
1.80
o

1.80

1.80x = x -32 0.80x = -32

x = -32/0.80 x = - 40

So –40°C = –40°F

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 Section 2.8
Density

• Mass of substance per unit volume of the

substance.
• Common units are g/cm3 or g/mL.

mass
Density =
volume

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Section 2.8
Density

Measuring the Volume of a Solid Object by Water Displacement

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 Section 2.8
Density

Example #1

A certain mineral has a mass of 17.8 g and a volume of

2.35 cm3. What is the density of this mineral?

mass
Density =
volume

17.8 g
Density =
2.35 cm3

3
Density = 7.57 g/cm
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Section 2.8
Density

Example #2

What is the mass of a 49.6 mL sample of a liquid, which

has a density of 0.85 g/mL?

mass x
Density = 0.85 g/mL =
volume 49.6 mL

mass = x = 42 g

OR

( 49.6 mL ) ( 0.85 g/mL ) = 42 mL

g

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Section 2.8
Density

Exercise

If an object has a mass of 243.8 g and occupies a

volume of 0.125 L, what is the density of this
object in g/cm3?
a) 0.513
b) 1.95
c) 30.5
d) 1950

�243.8 g �
� 1L �
�1mL �
� �
� �
� �= 1.95g/ cm
3

�0.125 L �
�1000mL �
�1cm � 3

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Section 2.8
Density

Using Density as a Conversion Factor

How many lbs of sugar is in 945 gallons of 60.0 Brix (% sugar) orange
concentrate if the density of the concentrate is 1.2854 g/mL?

945 gal 4 qt 1 L 1000 mL 1.2854 gT 60.0 gS 1 lbs

1 gal 1L 1 mL 100 gT 454gS
1.06qt
= 6057.865514lbs = 6.06 x 103 lbs sugar

lbs of what? Coffee? Cocaine?

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Section 2.8
Density

Using Density as a Conversion Factor Using the Formula

How many lbs of sugar is in 256 L of 60.0 Brix (% sugar)

orange concentrate if the density of the concentrate is
1.2854 g/mL?

M
D= Solve for Mass DV = M
V
(1.2854 g/mL)(256,000 mL) = 329062.4 gT = 3.29 x 105 gT

1 lbT 60.0 lbsS = 434.8017621 lbsS

3.29 x 105 gT
454 gT 100 lbsT = 4.35 x 102 lbsS
= 435 lbsS
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Section 2.8
Density

Concept Check

Copper has a density of 8.96 g/cm3. If 75.0 g of copper

is added to 50.0 mL of water in a graduated cylinder, to
what volume reading will the water level in the cylinder
rise?
a) 8.4 mL �1cm �
3
� 1mL �
( 75.0g) � �� � = 8.37mL Cu
b) 41.6 mL �8.96g � �1cm �
3

c) 58.4 mL
d) 83.7 mL 8.37 mL Cu + 50.0 mL water = 58.4 mL

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