3.

1 SI BASE UNITS
WHAT IS DISTANCE?

 Distance is the length of the route between two points. The distance of a race, for example, is the
length of the track between the starting and finishing lines. In a 100-meter sprint, that distance is
100 meters.
 The SI unit for distance is the meter (m). Short distances may be measured in centimeters (cm),
and long distances may be measured in kilometers (km).
METRIC SYSTEM

 The metric system is used because all metric units are based on multiples of 10, making
conversions very simple.
INTERNATIONAL SYSTEM OF UNITS

 The International System of Units is a system of measurement based on the metric system.

The SI was adopted by international agreement in 1960 and is composed of seven base units, as shown in
Table below.

Quantity SI Base Unit Symbol

Length meter m
Mass kilogram kg
Temperature kelvin K
Time second s
Amount of a Substance mole mol
Electric Current ampere A
Luminous Intensity candela cd
FIRST FIVE ARE THE MOST COMMONLY USED UNITS IN CHEMISTRY
SUMMARY

 The SI system is based on multiples of ten.

 There are seven basic units in the SI system.
 Five of these units are commonly used in chemistry.
REVIEW

1. What does SI stand for?

 SI stands for the French term, Le systeme International d’Unites.
2. When was this system adopted by the international community?
 The SI was adopted by international agreement in 1960.
3. Which of the units are commonly used in chemistry?
 Units that are commonly used in chemistry are meter, kilogram, kelvin, second and mole.