UNIT

1
Ma)er and Chemical Bonding
 Chapter 1
Observing Ma)er
Measurement and Uncertainty
 Certainty
•  The certainty of a measurement is determined
by how many certain digits are obtained by the
measuring instrument.

•  Certainty is measured by the number of
significant digits.

•  Significant digits are all the numbers in a
measurement that are certain PLUS one
uncertain digit.
 Uncertainty
•  For measured quanHHes there is always uncertainty in
the last digit.
Ex: a graduated cylinder 22 mL

21 mL

20 mL
19 mL

The blue reading is: mL

The red reading is: mL
Both measurements have significant digits.
 Significant Digits – the rules

1) All digits included in a stated value (except leading

zeros) are significant, if there is a decimal

Examples:
a) 234.0 kg has 4 significant digits(s.d.)
b) 0.0234 m has s.d.
c) 2.30x10-2 g has s.d.

 Significant Digits – the rules

1) All digits included in a stated value (except

leading zeros) are significant, if there is a decimal

Examples:
a) 234.0 kg has 4 significant digits(s.d.)
b) 0.0234 m has 3 s.d.
c) 2.30x10-2 g has 3 s.d.

 Significant Digits – the rules

2) All non-zero digits are significant, if there is no

decimal
Examples:
d) 109 000 m has 3 s.d.
e) 230 0C has s.d.
f) 4 000 cm3 has s.d.

 Significant Digits – the rules

2) All non-zero digits are significant, if there is no

decimal
Examples:
d) 109 000 m has 3 s.d.
e) 230 0C has 2 s.d.
f) 4 000 cm3 has 1 s.d.

 Significant Digits – the rules
3) Counted or defined values have an infinite
number of significant digits.
Examples:
•  There are beakers on the counter.

•  There are mL in 1 L.

•  There are atoms of hydrogen in a water

molecule (H2O).

 Significant Digits – the rules
3) Counted or defined values have an infinite
number of significant digits.
Examples:
•  There are 24 beakers on the counter.

•  There are 1000 mL in 1 L.

•  There are 2 atoms of hydrogen in a water

molecule (H2O).

 Math OperaHons
•  All answers from a calculaHon are
rounded off in order to obtain the
correct uncertainty.

•  For different mathemaHcal operaHons,
there are two certainty rules.

 Math OperaHons (I)

•  When mulHplying and/or dividing,

round off the answer to the least
number of significant digits.
 Math OperaHons (I)
Example 1:
a)  MulHply:
2.5 cm x 6.03 x 109 cm
= 1.5 x 1010 cm2
b) Divide:
88 .25 g
3
3 . 2 cm
= 28 g/cm3
 Math OperaHons (II)
•  When adding and/or subtracHng ,
round off the answer to the least
number of decimal places.
 Math OperaHons (II)
Example 2:
a) 6.52 kg + 72 kg
= 78.52 kg
= 79 kg
b) 102.0 cm + 0.0 023 cm + 0.15 cm
= 102.1523 cm
= 102.2 cm


 Round Off in CalculaHons
Example 3: Round off the following to 3 s.d.
a)  43.09 m
b)  8.125 L
c)  6 529 kg
d)  1 002 mg

 Round Off in CalculaHons
Example 3: Round off the following to 3 s.d.
a)  43.09 m 43.1 m
b)  8.125 L 8.13 L
c)  6 529 kg 6530 kg or 6.53 x 103 kg
d)  1 002 mg 1.00 x 103 mg