Conversions

– Given units x desired units desired units

Given unit

Eg. Average speed of a nitrogen molecule in air at 25.0 oC is 515 m.s‐1. Convert this
speed to miles per hour.
1 mile 1.6093 km
515 1 1 60 60
1152.05 /
1 1000 1.6093 1 1

– 3 significant figures: 1.15 x 103 mi/hr
– Or convert in 2 steps: m to miles and seconds to hours, then combine.
515 1 1
0.3200
1 1000 1.6093
1 60 60
3600
1 1 1
0.3200 3600 1152 /
– Involving volume:
Eg. 2. What is the mass, in grams, of 2.00 cubic inches of gold, density 19.3 g/cm3.
– 1 in 2.54 cm
Each side =  √2.00 1.26  
2.54
2.00 32.774
1

19.3 632.54 633

32.774

6. An intensive care patient is receiving an antibiotic IV at a rate of 50. mL/h. The IV
contains 1.5 g of antibiotic in 1000 mL. Calculate the mg antibiotic/min of the drip.
1.5 1.5 10 1000 50.0 1
1.25 / min 1.3 /
1000 1 60

Answers:
7. 2.707 L and 2474 g 2.5 x 10
8. 1.89 10