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Topic 7 Measurement
In chemistry, a measured quantity is usually written as a number with an appropriate unit.

Example: 135.20 grams

value (number) unit

SI Units
In 1960, the international authority on units (General Conference of Weights and Measures)
proposed a revised metric system called the International System of Units (abbreviated as SI, from
the French Systẻme Internationale d’ Unites).

Table 1.2 shows the seven SI base units. All other units of measurement can be derived from
these base units. Like metric units, SI units are modified in decimal fashion by a series of prefixes as
shown in Table. 1.3.

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Mass and weight

Mass is a measure of the amount of matter in

an object

SI unit of mass is kilogram (kg)

1 kg = 1000 g = 1 x 103 g

Weight is a force that gravity exerts in an object

weight = c x mass ; c = a constant

on earth, c = 1
on the moon, c 1

Example: The astronauts were able to jump on the

moon’s surface in their bulky suits because of the
moon’s smaller gravity

Volume

The SI unit for length is meter (m) and the SI 1 cm3 = (1 x 10-2 m)3 = 1 x 10-6 m3
derived unit for volume is the cubic meter (m3) 1 dm3 = (1 x 10-1 m)3 = 1 x 10-3 m3

Another common unit for volume is the Liter (L).

A liter is a volume occupied by one cubic

decimeter.

One liter of volume is equal to 1000 milliliters

(mL) or 1000 cm3

1 Liter = 1000 mL
= 1000 cm3
= 1 dm3

And, 1mL = 1 cm

Fig. 1.10 Comparison of two volumes,

1mL & 1000 mL

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: The Study

Fig. 1.8 Some common measuring devices (for liquids) found in the chemistry laboratory

Density

Density is the mass per unit volume of an object. The equation for density:

density = ; d=

where: d = density, m = mass, V = volume

Density is an intensive property. For a given substance, density does not depend on the
quantity of mass present. The ratio of mass to volume is always the same, V increases as m does.
Density usually decreases with temperature.

kilogram per cubic meter (Kg/m3) is the SI-derived unit for density. This unit is large for most
chemical applications. Therefore, equivalent units are commonly used:

grams per cubic centimeter (g/cm3) for solids

grams per milliliter (g/mL) liquids
Gas densities are often very low, it is expressed in unit grams per Liter (g/L)

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 Table 1.4 List of densities of
several substances

Density Calculation problems:

Example 7-1
Gold is a precious metal that is chemically unreactive. It is used mainly for jewelry, in dentistry and
3
electronic devices. A piece of gold ingot with a mass of 301 g has a volume of 15.6 cm . Calculate the
density of gold.
Given: gold (Au) ingot, mass (m) = 301 g
volume (V) = 15.6 cm3
Required: density of gold, d = ?
Solution:
Using the equation for density, d =

Substitute the given values, d = = 19.3 g/cm3

Answer:
d = 19.3 g/cm3

Example 7-2
The density of mercury, the only metal that is liquid at room temperature, is 13.6 g/mL. Calculate the mass
of 5.50 mL of the liquid.

Given: Mercury (Hg), density, d = 13.6 g/mL

Volume, V = 5.50 mL

Required: mass of Hg = ?

Solution:
From the equation, d = , m is the variable, the equation as can be rearranged as
m = dV , substituting the given values

m = 13.6 (5.50 mL)

m = 74.80 g
Answer:
m = 74.80 g
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Temperature

3 temperature scales that are commonly used:

 The Kelvin (K) scale is the SI base unit for temperature. It is the absolute temperature scale.
By absolute, it means that the zero on the Kelvin scale, denoted by 0 K, is the lowest
temperature that can be attained theoretically.

It should be noted that the Kelvin scale has no degree sign and temperatures expressed in Kelvin can
never be negative.

 The Fahrenheit (oF) scale is the most commonly used in the United States outside the
laboratory defines the freezing point of water at 32oF and boiling point of water at 212oF.

 The Celsius (oC) scale divides the range of the freezing point (0oC) and boiling point (100oC) of
water into 100 degrees

O O
To convert C to F

O O
To convert C to F

O
To convert C to K

O
?K = C + 273.15

Fig. 1.11 Comparison of the three temperature

scales: Celsius, Fahrenheit and the absolute
(Kelvin) scales

Temperature calculation problems:

Example 7-3a Solder is an alloy made of tin and lead that is used in electronic circuits. A certain
solder has a melting point of 224OC. What is the melting point in degrees Fahrenheit?
Given: melting point of a solder: 224OC
Required: the melting point in OF
Solution: to convert OC to OF, you will use the equation, = + 32

Substituting the value given, = + 32 = 435

Answer: the melting point = 435

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 Example 7-3b
O
Helium has the lowest boiling point of all the elements at -452 F. Convert this temperature to degree
Celsius

Given: boiling point of Helium: -452

Required: the boiling point of Helium in

Solution: to convert to , you will use the equation, = (

Substituting the value given, = ( = -268.89

Answer: the boiling point of Helium = -268.89

Example 7-3c
O
Mercury, the only metal that exists as a liquid at room temperature, melts at -38.9 C, convert this
temperature to Kelvin

Given: melting point of mercury: 38.9

Required: melting point of mercury in K

Solution: to convert to K , you will use the equation, K = ( + 273.15 )x

Substituting the value given, K = ( + 273.15 )x = 234.25 K

Answer: the melting point of mercury = 234.25 K

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