Nursing Chemistry (NurChem) 1

Laboratory Manual

Laboratory Procedure Activity

Measurements 3

Accurate and precise measurements are essential to describe the properties of matter
quantitatively. The International System of Units1 (SI for French Système International
de Unitès) is used for this purpose. Based on the original Metric System developed after
the French Revolution, the SI is used in most scientific work worldwide.

The seven SI base units include meter (m) for length, kilogram (kg) for mass, second
(s) for time, ampere (A) for electric current, Kelvin (K) for temperature, mole (mol) for
amount of substance, and candela (cd) for luminous intensity. Often, gram is used
instead for mass because chemists deal with significantly smaller masses in the
laboratory. The fundamental unit for volume, another important quantity, is liter (L).
Milliliter (mL) is commonly used in the laboratory for smaller volume quantities.

It is important that recorded data reflect the accuracy of the device used to make the
measurement.

The Metric System was originally based mainly upon fundamental properties of one of
the world’s most abundant substances – water. Table 3-1 is the summary of the Metric
System. Conversions will be simple once the meanings of the prefixes given in Table 3-2
are memorized. A comparison of the common SI, Metric and English units is presented
in Table 3-3.

Familiarity with conversion of some SI units, from the Metric to the English System units
should also be gained since these are still in commercial usage. Conversions within the
metric system will be quite easy if definitions for the prefixes are kept in memory and
dimensional analysis for problem solving is used.

Table 3-1. Units of Measurement in the Metric System2

Measurement Unit and Definition
Mass or Weight Gram (g) = weight of 1 cubic centimeter (cm3) of water at 4C and
760 mmHg
Mass = quantity of material
Weight = mass x gravitational force
Length Meter (m) = 100 cm = 1000 mm = 39.37 in.
Volume Liter (L) = volume of 1 kilogram (kg) of water at 4C
Temperature C, measures heat intensity
C = 5/9 (F – 32) F = (9/5)C + 32

1 The name International System of Units (SI) was given to the adapted system by the 11th CGPM in 1960. At the 14th
CGPM (General Conference on Weights and Measures) in 1971 the current version of the SI was completed by adding
the mole as base unit for amount of substance, bringing the total number of base units to seven.
2 Nelson, John H. and Kenneth C. Kemp. Chemistry the Central Science Laboratory Experiments 7th ed. New Jersey:

Prentice Hall, 1997.

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Nursing Chemistry (NurChem) 2
Laboratory Manual

Table 3-1 continued.

Heat 1 calorie (cal), amount of heat required to raise 1 g water 1 C:
1 cal = 4.184 joules (J)
Density ρ, usually g/mL for liquids and g/L for gases:
ρ = mass/unit volume
Specific gravity sp gr., dimensionless:
sp gr. = density of a substance/ density of a reference substance

Table 3-2. Meaning of Prefixes in the Metric System3

Prefix Meaning (power of 10) Abbreviation
femto- 10-15 f
Pico- 10-12 p
nano- 10-9 n
micro- 10-6 
milli- 10-3 m
centi- 10-2 c
deci- 10-1 d
Kilo- 103 k
mega- 106 M
giga- 109 G

Table 3-3. Comparison of SI, Metric and English Units4i

Physical Some Common
Quantity SI Unit Metric units Conversion factors
Length Meter (m) Meter (m) 1 m = 100 cm
Centimeter (cm) 1 m = 39.37 in.
1 in. = 2.54 cm
Volume Cubic meter (m3) Liter (L) 1 L = 103 cm
Milliliter (mL) 1 L = 10-3 m3
1 L = 1.06 qt
Mass Kilogram (kg) Gram (g) 1 kg = 103 g
Milligram (mg) 1 kg = 2.205 lb
1 lb = 453.6 g
Energy Joule (J) Calorie (cal) 1 cal = 4.184 J
Temperature Kelvin (K) Degree Celsius (C) 0K = -273.15C
C = 5/9 (F – 32)
F = (9/5)C + 32

3 Ibid.
4 Ibid.

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Ateneo de Zamboanga University, Zamboanga City, Philippines
Nursing Chemistry (NurChem) 3
Laboratory Manual

Apparatus/Materials: Chemicals:

foot rule (centimeter–inch calibrated) water

measuring tape opaque liquid
meterstick
book
50 mL or 100 mL graduated cylinder
250 mL beaker
triple beam balance
block of wood
thermometer
Bunsen burner
iron ring
iron stand
wire gauze

Procedure:

I. Measurement of Dimensions (Length, Width, Height/Thickness)

1. Examine the calibration of a meterstick, a measuring tape, and a foot rule (ruler).

Data 1. dimensions for inches (English) and centimeters (Metric). Label Figure 3b
in the data sheet

2. Measure the full length of the laboratory table using the measuring tape (in inches).
Do the same thing using the meterstick. Convert these to centimeters.

Data 2. laboratory table length (using a measuring tape)

laboratory table length (using a meterstick)
conversions of data to centimeters

3. Get the dimensions (length, width, thickness) of a book using a foot rule in
centimeters. Do the same thing using the meterstick (in centimeters). Calculate its
area and volume using both sets of data.

Data 3. dimensions (using a foot rule)

dimensions (using a meterstick)
area and volume for both sets

II. Measurement of Volume

Volumes of liquids are ordinarily measured using a graduated cylinder in the laboratory.

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Nursing Chemistry (NurChem) 4
Laboratory Manual

A. Practice

1. Get hold of a graduated cylinder and decide the equivalent of each division.
Practice measuring 25 mL water by adding or removing water until the lower
meniscus coincides with the 25 mL graduation.

Figure 3a. Reading volume of a clear liquid in a graduated cylinder.

2. This time use 25 mL of an opaque liquid instead of water.

Data 4. volume of clear/transparent liquid

volume of opaque liquid

III. Measurement of Mass

Mass is commonly defined as the amount of material in matter. The laboratory provides
different balances for the measure of mass. The triple beam balance will be used.

1. Place the triple beam balance on a flat and level surface. Identify the different parts
of the balance.

Data 4. identify parts of the triple beam balance (Figure 3b in Data Sheet)

2. Inspect the different parts of the balance. Make sure these are clean and dry.
3. Place the riders to the zero marks. The pointer should come to rest in the middle of
the scale. If it does not rest in the middle of the scale, notify the instructor.

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Nursing Chemistry (NurChem) 5
Laboratory Manual

4. Get a block of wood and place it on the pan. Move the riders along the scale until
balance is restored. After getting the mass of the block, return the riders to the zero
positions on the scale. Remove the block from the pan. Do this procedure using two
other materials.

Data 5. mass of the block of wood

mass of object a
mass of object b

IV. Measurement of Temperature

Temperature is defined as the intensity of heat (or hotness) of a body. It is expressed in

Kelvin in the SI, however, most temperature measurements are done using the degree
Celsius (C) or degree Fahrenheit (F) scales. Take hold of a thermometer and examine
its calibration and temperature scales. Two types of laboratory thermometers are
available – mercury and alcohol (using tinted/colored alcohol). They can calibrated up to
110C or 360C.

1. Place 50 mL of cold water in a beaker. Immerse the bulb of the thermometer in the
cold water. Make sure that it does not touch the bottom or side of the beaker. Notice
that the mercury falls until it stops at a certain level. Record this temperature.

Data 6a. temperature of cold water

2. Place 50 mL of tap water in a beaker and set up for boiling. Record the temperature
of the boiling water.

Data 6b. temperature of boiling water

3. Examine the room thermometer located in the box of the barometer. Record its
reading.

Data 6a. room temperature reading

PROPER DISPOSAL: Ask instructor whether the opaque liquid used is

organic or inorganic. Dispose into wastes container accordingly.

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Nursing Chemistry (NurChem) 6
Laboratory Manual

Questions:

1. Compare the data obtained using a foot rule and a meterstick.

2. What is the proper way of taking volume readings of a colorless/clear liquid?
3. Why should volume readings be taken with the eye level parallel to the meniscus?
4. A college freshman 5 feet 4 inches tall and weighing 100 lbs, calculated her body
mass index (BMI) to be 17.2. By BMI standard, she is underweight. What are her
height and weight equivalents in centimeters and kilograms?
5. Two patients have been taken their body temperatures - patient A: 99F and patient
B: 313 K. If the normal body temperature is 37C, which patient has fever?

Further Study:

1. Log on to http://physics.nist.gov/cuu/Units/index.html for a detailed and historical study

of the International System of Measurements.
2. Secure from your instructor a copy of an activity on the importance of units. Parts of
the activity are trivial yet are able to lead students to better appreciating units.
3. Practice doing mental conversions for units of dimensions and time.

Review Questions:

1. What are the basic units for length (dimension), mass, volume, and temperature in
the SI system?
2. What’s the difference between taking volume readings of a colorless/clear liquid and
an opaque liquid?
3. A lady who is 170 cm tall is uncertain if she qualifies for the height requirement in a
beauty pageant. The contest requirement is 5 feet and 6 inches. Is she qualified to
join the contest?
4. Which glassware are intended for measurement of liquid volume? Which are merely
for estimation?
5. Cite two situations that depict the qualities of accuracy and precision. Is a precise
set of data always accurate? Explain.

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Ateneo de Zamboanga University, Zamboanga City, Philippines
Nursing Chemistry (NurChem) 7
Laboratory Manual

Name :_______________________________ Subject/Section :___________

Course/Year :______________ Date Performed :___________
ID Number :______________

Data Sheet Activity

Measurement 3

Data:

1. The calibration of a foot rule

? ? ? ? ?

Inch

Centimeter

? ? ?

Figure 3b. Calibration of a Foot Rule.

2. Length of laboratory table

laboratory table length Measuring Tape Meterstick

in inches

conversion to centimeters

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Chemistry Laboratory 101: General and Inorganic Chemistry 8
Laboratory Manual

3. Dimensions of a book
Dimensions Foot Rule

length

width

thickness

cover area (length x width)

volume (length x width x thickness)

4. Volume of liquids
Volume of clear/transparent liquid ___________
Volume of opaque liquid ___________

5. Parts of the triple beam balance

Figure 3c. The triple beam balance.

6. Mass of selected objects 7. Temperature of selected systems

Objects Masses System Temperature

block of wood cold water

glass vial boiling water

specimen container room temperature

Natural Sciences Department, College of Science and Information Technology, Ateneo de Zamboanga
University, Zamboanga City, Philippines.