Unit 1: Chemistry Calculations Notes:

Worksheet B: Numbers in Science Numbers in Science

Measurements (3.25 cm) are different from other numbers
1. Three scientists measure the standard meter bar kept at the (3.14159265).
International Bureau of Standards. Their measurements are 1.09 ● Measurements represent an action by someone with
m, 1.09 m, and 1.08 m. Are their measurements accurate, precise, measuring instrument
or both? Why? ● Measurements have built-in uncertainty; no measurement is
exact
● Measurements have units
Their measurements are both accurate and precise because all
measurements come close to the correct value and they all come
very close to each other. Scientific Notation
Some numbers are too big or too small to write with ease and clarity.
This happens often in science therefore the numbers will be written in
2. An archer shoots three arrows at a target and each lands within 1 scientific notation.
cm of the others but none of the arrows is within 30 cm of the
bull's-eye. Discuss both the accuracy and the precision of the To convert a number to scientific notation:
archer. ● Move your decimal to after the first nonzero giving you a
number between 1-10.
Precision because they come very close to each other but no ● Count the number of digits between the old and the new
accuracy because they didn’t come close to the accepted value
decimal point, this gives the power, n of 10 (10n)
3.Three students made multiple weighings of a copper cylinder, each ➢ Decimal moving to the left exponent is positive. Positive
using a different balance. The correct mass of the cylinder had been exponents are for numbers that are greater than 1.
previously determined to be 47.32 g. . ➢ Decimal moves to the right exponent is negative. Negative
exponents are for numbers that are less than 1.
Lisa Lamont Leigh
example 1: 200,000,000,000. = 2 x 1011
Weighing 1 47.13 47.45 47.95
Decimal moves 11 places to the left therefore the exponent is 11.
Weighing 2 47.94 47.39 47.91
Weighing 3 46.83 47.42 47.89 example 2: 0.000000345 = 3.45 x 10-7
Weighing 4 47.47 47.41 47.93 Decimal moves 7 places to the right therefore the exponent is negative
(-) 7.
Describe the accuracy and precision of each student’s measurements

Lisa not accurate and not precise

Lamont accurate and precise

Leigh not accurate but precise

Multiplying & Dividing with your calculator:
1. Punch the number (the digit number) into your calculator. (8.18 × 10−6m)(1.15 × 10−5m) = 9.407 x 10^-11 m^2
2. Push the EE button on the calculator. Do NOT use the x (times)
button!!
3. Enter the exponent number. Use the +/- button to change its sign. (5.8 × 10−6mm)(2 × 104 mm) = 11.6 x 10^-2 mm^2
4. Continue with to multiple or divide as any other number.
7.8 × 104 g ÷ 8 × 101 L .975 x 10^2 G/L

Exercise: Convert the measurements into scientific notation, and vice

7.6 × 100 g/mL ÷ 5.4 × 10−6 mL 1.407407407 x 10^6 mL^2
versa.

2.65× 10−1 m ÷ 5.3 × 102 sec = .05 x 10^-4 M/S

Measurement Scientific Notation

5700 g 57 x 10^2 g

2,000 cm 2 x 10^3 cm

0.000043 kg 4.3 x 10^-5 kg

0.000036 m 3.6 x 10-5 m

60. kg 6.00 x 101 kg

Exercise: Multiple or divide the following scientific numbers.