MEASUREMENTS AND

FUNDAMENTAL CALCULATIONS IN
GENERAL CHEMISTRY

NELSON M. PANAJON, RCh

Department of Chemistry
Central Luzon State University
 Measurements and Fundamental Calculations in General Chemistry I page 2

CHEMISTRY
- derived through a plan of action
called the scientific method

scientific method
– systematic procedure for processing and
understanding certain types of information
 Measurements and Fundamental Calculations in General Chemistry I page 3

scientific method
an overall explanation of how natural
phenomenon behaves; summary of
observed and measurable behavior

standardized through an overall explanation of

measurements
measurement why natural phenomenon
exist; often called a model
 Measurements and Fundamental Calculations in General Chemistry I page 4

measurement
quantitative way by which
science deals with nature

▪ removes subjectivity and bias

▪ standardizes the observation
 Measurements and Fundamental Calculations in General Chemistry I page 5

measurement
quantitative way by which
science deals with nature

▪ needs to be accurate and precise

▪ described by either the English or the SI
(or metric) systems of measurement
 Measurements and Fundamental Calculations in General Chemistry I page 6

systems of
measurement
The English System

▪ originated from the Europian countries, this

system uses fixed conversion factors that
varies from one quantity to another
 Measurements and Fundamental Calculations in General Chemistry I page 7

systems of
measurement
The English System

English units and their

corresponding values
 Measurements and Fundamental Calculations in General Chemistry I page 8

systems of
measurement
The SI/Metric System

▪ uses prefixes in multiples of ten and has

seven base (or fundamental) units from
which all other units are derived
 Measurements and Fundamental Calculations in General Chemistry I page 9

systems of
measurement
The SI/Metric System

Fundamental Quantities and

corresponding base units
 Measurements and Fundamental Calculations in General Chemistry I page 10

systems of
measurement
The SI/Metric System

SI prefixes and their

corresponding values
 Measurements and Fundamental Calculations in General Chemistry I page 11

systems of
measurement
Metric and English Systems Interchange

▪ existence of these two systems of

measurements requires conversion factors
that will be useful in transferring from
metric to English system, and vice-versa
 Measurements and Fundamental Calculations in General Chemistry I page 12

systems of
measurement

Some common
English-Metric conversions
 Measurements and Fundamental Calculations in General Chemistry I page 13

systems of
measurement

Some common
English-Metric conversions
 Measurements and Fundamental Calculations in General Chemistry I page 14

systems of
measurement

Some common
English-Metric conversions
 Measurements and Fundamental Calculations in General Chemistry I page 15

systems of
measurement

Some common
English-Metric conversions
 Measurements and Fundamental Calculations in General Chemistry I page 16

systems of
measurement

Some common
English-Metric conversions
 Measurements and Fundamental Calculations in General Chemistry I page 17

dimensional
analysis
▪ technique employed during unit conversions;
also called unit analysis
▪ follows the general equation
 Measurements and Fundamental Calculations in General Chemistry I page 18

dimensional
analysis
Convert 10 meters to inches.
3.28 𝑓𝑒𝑒𝑡 12 𝑖𝑛𝑐ℎ𝑒𝑠
(a) lengthinches = 10 meters x x = 394 meters
1 𝑚𝑒𝑡𝑒𝑟 1 𝑓𝑜𝑜𝑡

100 𝑐𝑒𝑛𝑡𝑖𝑚𝑒𝑡𝑒𝑟𝑠 1 𝑖𝑛𝑐ℎ

(b) lengthinches = 10 meters x x = 394 meters
1 𝑚𝑒𝑡𝑒𝑟 2.54 𝑐𝑒𝑛𝑡𝑖𝑚𝑒𝑡𝑒𝑟𝑠
 Measurements and Fundamental Calculations in General Chemistry I page 19

dimensional
analysis

Convert 5 gallons per day to liters per hour.

𝑔𝑎𝑙𝑙𝑜𝑛𝑠 4 𝑞𝑢𝑎𝑟𝑡𝑠 1 𝑙𝑖𝑡𝑒𝑟 1 𝑑𝑎𝑦
rateliters/hour = 5 x x X = 0.79 L/hour
𝑑𝑎𝑦 1 𝑔𝑎𝑙𝑙𝑜𝑛 1.06 𝑞𝑢𝑎𝑟𝑡𝑠 24 ℎ𝑜𝑢𝑟𝑠
 Measurements and Fundamental Calculations in General Chemistry I page 20

dimensional
analysis

Convert 3 grams per cubic centimeter to pounds

per cubic foot.
𝑔𝑟𝑎𝑚𝑠 1 𝑘𝑖𝑙𝑜𝑔𝑟𝑎𝑚 2.2 𝑝𝑜𝑢𝑛𝑑𝑠
densitylbs/ft3 = 3 x x
𝑐𝑚3 1000 𝑔𝑟𝑎𝑚𝑠 1 𝑘𝑖𝑙𝑜𝑔𝑟𝑎𝑚
3 3
2.54 𝑐𝑚 𝑐𝑚
16.3871 1,728
12 𝑖𝑛𝑐ℎ𝑒𝑠
𝑖𝑛𝑐ℎ𝑒𝑠
x ( )33 ) x ( 1 𝑓𝑒𝑒𝑡3)3 ) = 187 lbs/ft3
11𝑖𝑛𝑐ℎ
𝑖𝑛𝑐ℎ 1 𝑓𝑜𝑜𝑡
 Measurements and Fundamental Calculations in General Chemistry I page 21

Exercise Problem

Which quantity is the smallest:

1 milligram, 1 microgram, or 1 picogram?
 Measurements and Fundamental Calculations in General Chemistry I page 22

Exercise Problem

Which quantity is the heaviest:

0.25 metric ton, 500 kilograms, or 1000
pounds?
 Measurements and Fundamental Calculations in General Chemistry I page 23

Exercise Problem

Convert the quantity 50 milliliters per

squared centimeter to gallons per squared foot.
 Measurements and Fundamental Calculations in General Chemistry I page 24

Exercise Problem

Convert the internet speed 5 mbps

(or megabits per second) to Terabytes per hour.
(Note 1 byte = 8 bits)
 Measurements and Fundamental Calculations in General Chemistry I page 25

Temperatures
- a measure of the degree of
hotness of an object;
a physical property that directs
heat flow

▪ described using the three major temperature

scales:
Celsius, Fahrenheit and Kelvin scales
 Measurements and Fundamental Calculations in General Chemistry I page 26

Temperatures

The Three major

Temperature Scales
 Measurements and Fundamental Calculations in General Chemistry I page 27

Temperatures
Conversion
derivation:
𝑆𝑐𝑎𝑙𝑒1 −𝑓𝑝 𝑤𝑎𝑡𝑒𝑟𝑠𝑐𝑎𝑙𝑒1 𝑆𝑐𝑎𝑙𝑒1 −𝑓𝑝 𝑤𝑎𝑡𝑒𝑟𝑠𝑐𝑎𝑙𝑒2
=
(𝑏𝑝 𝑤𝑎𝑡𝑒𝑟 −𝑓𝑝 𝑤𝑎𝑡𝑒𝑟)𝑠𝑐𝑎𝑙𝑒1 (𝑏𝑝 𝑤𝑎𝑡𝑒𝑟 −𝑓𝑝 𝑤𝑎𝑡𝑒𝑟)𝑠𝑐𝑎𝑙𝑒2
𝑜 𝑜
𝐶−0 𝐹 −32
=
100−0 (212 −32)
𝑜 𝑜
𝐶 𝐹 −32
=
100 (180)

oC (100)(𝑜𝐹 −32)
=
(180)
 Measurements and Fundamental Calculations in General Chemistry I page 28

Temperatures

The Temperature Scales

conversion
 Measurements and Fundamental Calculations in General Chemistry I page 29

Temperatures

The room temperature in a particular

location reads 77 oC. What would the
equivalent reading in the Kelvin scale?
5
oC = (oF – 32) K = oC + 273.15
9
5 = 25 + 273.15 = 298.15
= (77– 32) = 25oC
9
 Measurements and Fundamental Calculations in General Chemistry I page 30

Exercise Problem

At which temperature will the reading in

the Celsius and Fahrenheit scales equal?
 Measurements and Fundamental Calculations in General Chemistry I page 31

Density
- ratio of an object’s mass and
volume

▪ an intensive physical property that is often used

as the “identification tag” for objects
▪ usually measured at 25OC and expressed in
terms of g/mL or Kg/L
 Measurements and Fundamental Calculations in General Chemistry I page 32

Density
- ratio of an object’s mass and
volume

▪ temperature-dependent
▪ denoted by rho, ρ, and is given by the equation:
𝑚𝑎𝑠𝑠
ρ=
𝑣𝑜𝑙𝑢𝑚𝑒
 Measurements and Fundamental Calculations in General Chemistry I page 33

Density

Densities of selected
substances at 25OC
 Measurements and Fundamental Calculations in General Chemistry I page 34

Density

An unknown liquid is labeled with a density of 0.785

g/mL. How many kilograms would a gallon of this
unknown liquid weigh?
4 𝑞𝑢𝑎𝑟𝑡𝑠 1 𝑙𝑖𝑡𝑒𝑟 1000 𝑚𝐿 0.785 𝑔𝑟𝑎𝑚𝑠
masskilograms = 1.0 gallon x x X X
1 𝑔𝑎𝑙𝑙𝑜𝑛 1.06 𝑞𝑢𝑎𝑟𝑡𝑠 1 𝑙𝑖𝑡𝑒𝑟 1 𝑚𝐿
1 𝑘𝑖𝑙𝑜𝑔𝑟𝑎𝑚
X
1000 𝑔𝑟𝑎𝑚𝑠
= 2.96 kilograms
 Measurements and Fundamental Calculations in General Chemistry I page 35

Exercise Problem

A gas at 25°C fills a container whose volume is

1.05 x103 cm3. The container plus gas
has a mass of 837.6 g. The container,
when emptied of all gas, has a mass of 836.2 g.
What is the density of the gas at 25°C?
 Measurements and Fundamental Calculations in General Chemistry I page 36

Exercise Problem

An irregularly-shaped, compact solid weighs 5.0

grams. By water displacement method using a graduated
cylinder with an initial volume of water equal to 10.0 mL,
the water level rose to 18.0 mL when the stone was
dropped into it. What is the density of the stone in grams
per cubic centimeter?
 Measurements and Fundamental Calculations in General Chemistry I page 37

Exercise Problem

A spherical, compact marble weighs 5.0 grams

and a density of 3.25 grams per cubic centimeter.
What is the diameter of the spherical marble in
centimeter?
 Measurements and Fundamental Calculations in General Chemistry I page 38

Exercise Problem

An aqueous solution consisting of 15.0%

acetone by mass has a density of 0.9167 g/mL.
What mass of acetone, in kilograms, is present
in 20.0 L of the solution?
 Measurements and Fundamental Calculations in General Chemistry I page 39

Uncertainties in
Measurements

There are two kinds of numbers in scientific work:

exact and inexact numbers
▪ exact numbers - values which are known
exactly such as counting
numbers
 Measurements and Fundamental Calculations in General Chemistry I page 40

Uncertainties in
Measurements

There are two kinds of numbers in scientific work:

exact and inexact numbers
▪ inexact numbers - values with a significant
degree of uncertainty such as
measured quantities
 Measurements and Fundamental Calculations in General Chemistry I page 41

Uncertainties in
Measurements
described using accuracy and precision

accuracy – refers to how closely individual

measurements agree with the
correct, standard, or “true” value
– expressed in terms of percent
accuracy
 Measurements and Fundamental Calculations in General Chemistry I page 42

Uncertainties in
Measurements
described using accuracy and precision

precision – measure of how closely individual

measurements agree with one
another
– quantified in terms of standard
deviation
 Measurements and Fundamental Calculations in General Chemistry I page 43

Uncertainties in
Measurements

Poor Precision; Good Precision; Good Precision;

Poor Accuracy Poor Accuracy Good Accuracy
Precision and Accuracy: the Dart board analogy
 Measurements and Fundamental Calculations in General Chemistry I page 44

Uncertainties in
Measurements
addressed by using significant figures

Significant figures
– refers all digits of any measured quantity plus
one uncertain digit as the result of estimate
 Measurements and Fundamental Calculations in General Chemistry I page 45

Uncertainties in
Measurements

Significant figures
in measurement
 Measurements and Fundamental Calculations in General Chemistry I page 46

Uncertainties in
Measurements
Rules in significant figures
1. Nonzero integers always count as significant
figures.
ex. 123.456 = 6 significant figures
987,654,321 = 9 significant figures
 Measurements and Fundamental Calculations in General Chemistry I page 47

Uncertainties in
Measurements
Rules in significant figures
2. Captive zeros, or zeros in between two nonzero
integers, always count as significant.

ex. 1,001 = 4 significant figures

35.0025001 = 9 significant figures
 Measurements and Fundamental Calculations in General Chemistry I page 48

Uncertainties in
Measurements
Rules in significant figures
3. Leading zeros, or zeros before the first nonzero
integers, do not count as significant.

ex. 0.01 = 1 significant figure

0.0002875 = 4 significant figures
 Measurements and Fundamental Calculations in General Chemistry I page 49

Uncertainties in
Measurements
Rules in significant figures
4. Trailing zeros, or zeros after the last nonzero
integers, may or many not count as
significant.
ex. 2500 = 2 significant figures
2500.0 = 5 significant figures
 Measurements and Fundamental Calculations in General Chemistry I page 50

Uncertainties in
Measurements
Rules in significant figures
In summary, the rules in counting significant
figures are described by the
Atlantic-Pacific Rule.
ex. 2500 = 2 significant figures
2500.0 = 5 significant figures
 Measurements and Fundamental Calculations in General Chemistry I page 51

Uncertainties in
Measurements
Significant figures in calculations

For addition and

subtraction, the result
has the same number of
decimal places as the
measurement with the
fewest decimal places.
 Measurements and Fundamental Calculations in General Chemistry I page 52

Uncertainties in
Measurements
Significant figures in calculations
For multiplication and
division, the result has
the same number of
significant figure as the
measurement with the
least significant figures.
 Measurements and Fundamental Calculations in General Chemistry I page 53

Exercise Problem

State whether the following

is an exact (E) or inexact (IE) quantity:
a. the classmates in your chemistry class
b. the mass of a coin
c. the number of grams in a kilogram
 Measurements and Fundamental Calculations in General Chemistry I page 54

Exercise Problem

Give the number of significant figures

for each of the following results:
a. A student’s extraction procedure on tea yields 0.0105 g of
caffeine.
b. A chemist records a mass of 0.050080 g in an analysis.
c. In an experiment a span of time is determined to be 8.050 x103
seconds.
 Measurements and Fundamental Calculations in General Chemistry I page 55

Exercise Problem

The width, length, and height of a small box are

15.5 cm, 27.3 cm, and 5.4 cm, respectively.
Calculate the volume of the box, using the correct
number of significant figures in your answer.
 Measurements and Fundamental Calculations in General Chemistry I page 56

References

Brown, Lemay, Bursten, Murphy

& Woodward © 2012.
Chemistry: The Central Science (12th edition).
Prentice Hall: USA.

Chang, R. © 2010. Chemistry (10th edition).

McGraw-Hill: USA
 Measurements and Fundamental Calculations in General Chemistry I page 57

References

Petrucci, Herring, Madura & Bisonnette © 2011.

General Chemistry: Principles and Modern
Applications (10th edition). Pearson: Canada.

Silberberg, M. (2013).
Principles of General Chemistry (3rd edition).
New York: McGraw-Hill.
 Measurements and Fundamental Calculations in General Chemistry I page 58

References

Zumdahl, S. & Zumdahl, S. © 2012.

Chemistry: An Atoms First Approach
(10th edition). Brooks Cole: USA