Measurements

Pharmaceutical Chemistry 1 Lecture

Alexandra D. Atienza, RPh, MS Pharm (cand)
 Measurement
The Importance of Units

Every measurement is composed of a number and a unit.

The number is meaningless without the unit.

• proper aspirin dosage = 325 (milligrams or pounds?)

• a fast time for the 100-meter dash = 10.00 (seconds
or days?)

The English system uses units like feet (length), gallons (volume), and pounds
(weight).
The metric system uses units like meters (length), liters (volume), and grams
(mass).
 Measurement
The Metric System of Units
Each type of measurement has a base unit.
 Measurement
The Metric System of Units

• Other units are

related to the base
unit by a power of
10.

• The prefix of the

unit name indicates
if the unit is larger or
smaller than the
base unit.
Units of Measure
 Units of Measure
SI unit
The Metric System
The metric system is based on the decimal system in which
everything is measured in multiples or fractions of 10.
• Standard Measures:
– Meter-Length
– Gram- Weight
– Liter- Volume
Prefixes and movement of decimal point
 Units of Measure

• Volume- is the amount of space occupied by a three

dimensional object as measured in cubic units (as
milliters or Liters)

• Mass- is a property of physical objects which

measures the amount of matter in an object
 Units of Measure
• Avoirdupois – used in measuring bulk medications
(pounds, ounces and grains)
• Apothecary – developed after avoirdupois to enable fine
weighing of medications (pounds, ounces, drams, scruples,
grains gallons, pints, fluidounces, fluidrams, minims)
• Household- commonly used to measure liquids with home
utensils ( teaspoons, tablespoons, cups, pints, quarts)
 Measurement
Measuring Mass

SI units of mass
1 kilogram (kg) 1,000 grams (g)

1 gram (g) 1000 milligrams (mg)

1,000,000 micrograms 1 gram (g)

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A triple-beam balance used for determining C
mass to about ±0.01 g

A modern electronic top-loading balance that gives a

direct readout of mass to ±0.001 g

A modern analytical balance that can be used to

determine mass to ±0.0001 g. Analytical balances are
used when masses must be determined as precisely as
possible.
 Measurement
Measuring Volume

Volumes are often measured in liters or milliliters in the

metric system.
 Measurement
Measuring Volume

SI units of volume
1 kiloliter (kL) 1,000 liters (L)
1 liter (L) 1000 milliliter (mL)

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• The meter is the standard unit of length (distance) in both
SI and metric systems.
• meter is defined as the distance light travels in a vacuum
in 1/299,792,468 second. It is approximately 39.37 inches.
 Measurement
Measuring Length

SI units of length

1 kilometer (km) 1,000 meters (m)

1 meters (m) 1000 millimeter (mm)

100 centimeter (cm) 1 meter (m)
 Significant Figures
Exact and Inexact Numbers
An exact number results from counting objects or is part of a definition.
•10 fingers
•10 toes
•1 meter = 100 centimeters

An inexact number results from a measurement or observation and

contains some uncertainty.
•15.3 cm
•1000.8 g
•0.0034 mL
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 Significant Figures
Determining Significant Figures

Significant figures are all the digits in a measured number including one
estimated digit.
• All nonzero digits are always significant.

65.2 g 255.345 g
3 sig. figures 3 sig. figures
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 Significant Figures
Rules to Determine When a Zero is a Significant Figure

Rule 1: A zero counts as a significant figure when it occurs:

•between two nonzero digits

29.05 g 1.0087 mL
4 sig. figures 5 sig. figures

•at the end of a number with a decimal place

3.7500 cm 620. lb
5 sig. figures 3 sig. figures
 Significant Figures
Rules to Determine When a Zero is a Significant Figure

Rule 2: A zero does not count as a significant figure when it occurs:

•at the beginning of a number

0.00245 mg 0.008 mL
3 sig. figures 1 sig. figure

•at the end of a number that does not have a decimal

2570 m 1245500 m
3 sig. figures 5 sig. figures
 Problem Solving Using the Factor-Label Method
Conversion Factors

Conversion factor: A term that converts a quantity in one unit to a quantity

in another unit.
desired
original x conversion factor = quantity
quantity
•Conversion factors are usually written as equalities.
2.21 lb = 1 kg

•To use them, they must be written as fractions.

2.21 lb or 1 kg
1 kg 2.21 lb
 Using the Factor-Label Method
Solving a Problem Using One Conversion Factor

Factor-label method: Using conversion factors to convert a quantity in one unit to a

quantity in another unit.
•units are treated like numbers
•make sure all unwanted units cancel

To convert 130 lb into kilograms:

130 lb x conversion factor = ? kg

original desired
quantity quantity
 Using the Factor-Label Method
Solving a Problem Using One Conversion Factor
2.21 lb
1 kg
130 lb x or Answer
2 sig. figures
1 kg
2.21 lb = 59 kg

•The bottom conversion factor has

the original unit in the denominator.
•The unwanted unit lb cancels.
•The desired unit kg does not cancel.
 Using the Factor-Label Method

HOW TO Solve a Problem Using Conversion Factors

How many grams of aspirin are in a 325-mg

Example
tablet?

Step [1] Identify the original quantity and the desired

quantity, including units.
original quantity desired quantity
325 mg ?g
 Using the Factor-Label Method
HOW TO Solve a Problem Using Conversion Factors

Step [2] Write out the conversion factor(s) needed

to solve the problem.
1 g = 1000 mg
This can be written as two possible fractions:
1000 mg or 1g
1g 1000 mg

Choose this factor to

cancel the unwanted
unit, mg.
 Using the Factor-Label Method
HOW TO Solve a Problem Using Conversion Factors

Step [3] Set up and solve the problem.

325 mg x 1g = 0.325 g
1000 mg
3 sig. figures
3 sig. figures Unwanted unit
cancels.

Step [4] Write the answer with the correct number

of significant figures.
 Using the Factor-Label Method
Solving a Problem Using Two or More Conversion Factors

Always arrange the factors so that the denominator in one term cancels the numerator in
the preceding term.
How many liters is in 1.0 pint?
1.0 pint ?L
original quantity desired quantity
•Two conversion factors are needed:
2 pints = 1 quart 1.06 quarts = 1 liter
2 pt or 1 qt 1.06 qt or 1L
1 qt 2 pt 1L 1.06 qt

First, cancel pt. Then, cancel qt.

 Using the Factor-Label Method
Solving a Problem Using Two or More Conversion Factors

•Set up the problem and solve:

1.0 pt x 1 qt x 1L = 0.47 L
2 pt 1.06 qt
2 sig. figures 2 sig. figures

•Write the answer with the correct number of

significant figures.
 Some Useful Equivalents
LENGTH :
1 inch = 2.54 cm O

VOLUME :
1mL = 16.23 minims
1 fluidounce = 29.57 mL
1 pint = 16 fl oz = 473 mL
1 quart = 32 fl oz = 946 mL
1 gallon = 128 fl oz = 3785 mL
 Some Useful Equivalents
WEIGHT:
1 grain (gr.) = 65 mg
1 gram = 15.432 gr
1 lb = 454 g
1 kg = 2.2lbs
 Some Useful Equivalents
APOTHECARY:
1 fluidrachm = 60 minims
1 fluidounce = 8 fluidrachms

AVOIRDUPOIS:
1 lb = 16 oz
1 oz = 437.5 gr
 Some Useful Equivalents
HOUSEHOLD MEASURES:
1 teaspoonful = 5 mL
1 tablespoonful = 15 mL

CONVERSION:
F = 9/5 oC + 32
C = 5/9 (oF- 32)