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Culture Documents
TOPIC TITLE
1. Chemistry: An Introduction
TOPICS
1. Introduction to Chemistry
1.1 Chemistry as a Science
1.2 Subdivisions of Chemistry
1.3 Origins of Chemistry
1.4 Scientific Measurements
1.4.1 Elements of Measurement
1.4.2 Significant Figures
1.4.3 Scientific Notation
1.4.4 SI Units of Measurement
1.4.5 Unit Relationship between SI and English Units
1.4.6 Units of Density and Temperature
1.4.7 Factor-Label Method
LEARNING OUTCOME
1. Gain understanding on the basic concepts of measurement as applied in
Chemistry; and
2. Appreciate the importance of measurement in Chemistry; Solve problems
involving measurement as applied in Chemistry.
KEYWORDS
Inorganic Temperature
Measurement Factor-label
Density SI system
SUGGESTED/ASSIGNED READING/S
Nocum, Zenaida T. (2005). General inorganic chemistry.C & A Publishing, Inc.:
Quezon City.
Whitten, D., et al (2007). Chemistry. Thompson Books: California.
Chang, R. (2005). Chemistry. Mc Graw Hill: New York.
Goldberg, D. E. (2004). Fundamentals of chemistry. Mc Graw Hill: New York.
1. INTRODUCTION TO CHEMISTRY
Ancient Civilization
Before 600 B.C., the production of metals from ores, the manufacture of
pottery, brewing, baking, and the preparation of dyes and of drugs are ancient arts
in Egypt and Mesopotamia (Mortimer, 1986). Metallurgy started with process of
extracting metals from their ores like the heating of the ore malachite to produce
copper. This practice became a technological breakthrough when 10 % copper and
12 % tin was mixed together to form bronze (Bodner & Pardue, 1995). Aside from
copper, the Egyptians also used iron, silver, and gold. In addition, they also knew
the art of glass making and embalming. All of these practical are considered to be
empirical or based from practical experience. All of these things where discovered
in the great pyramids of Egypt. The pyramids are the one of greatest
accomplishments of ancient civilization for it served as a laboratory for the
Egyptians and served as a temple, giving its credit as the greatest wonders on
world.
Greek Civilization
The philosophical aspect or the theoretical aspect of chemistry began in
ancient Greece about 600 B.C. (Mortimer, 1986). The Greeks introduced the
concepts like the elements such as earth (cold and dry), air (hot and wet), fire (hot
and dry), and water (cold and wet). Moreover, the concept about the atom was
proposed by Leucippus and later was elaborated further by Democritus in the fifth
century B.C. (Mortimer, 1986). Plato proposed the concept on the shapes of atoms
and properties of atoms to be changed (or transmuted) into another form. Aside
from these theories, the Greeks also knew the principle behind chemical
combination and introduced systematic experimentation.
Roman Civilization
Period of Alchemy
The word alchemy was derived form the Arabic term al-kimia meaning “the
art of transmuting metals” (Clugston & Flemming, 2000). With this, the
alchemists’ goal is to prolong life indefinitely making humans immortal using a
“philosopher’s stone” called by the Arabs as the aliksir, which was later corrupted
into elixir (Mortimer, 1986). The alchemists also would like to change or transmute
the base metals like iron, zinc, and copper into gold. All of these goals of the
alchemists turned out to be a fantasy. Later, the term alchemy was criticized as
pseudo-chemistry or false chemistry.
Renaissance Period
The Renaissance period is sometimes called as the period of the awakening or
enlightenment from the period of the alchemy during the Dark Ages. The Dark
Ages is believed the period of chaos, war, and confusion.
In 1661, Robert Boyle wrote a book called The Sceptical Chymist, which
attacked the idea about fire, air, water, and earth became widely accepted by the
public and opened the doors to the development of modern chemistry. Moreover,
Boyle also criticized in his book about the goal of the alchemist of transmuting the
base metals into gold. He stressed that chemical theory should be derived from
experimental evidence (Mortimer, 1986).
The Phlogiston theory (fire principle) was principally the work of George
Ernst Stahl. This theory dominated chemistry during the eighteenth century. This
theory of phlogiston was assumed to be a constituent of any substance that could
undergo combustion. Phlogiston theory also explains in this theory that all
substance are composed of calx (metal oxide) and phlogiston and undergoes a
process called as calcination. However, this theory was inadequately explained and
not universal for all chemical reactions that undergo combustion.
Modern Chemistry
The beginning of modern chemistry opened new frontiers of knowledge and
breakthroughs. Antoine Lavoisier, a French chemist, was the founder and the
CHEM 101 C College of
QUIRINO STATE
Criminal Justice
General Chemistry and UNIVERSITY
CCJE
Developed by: Education
Organic DENSON M. LIDAY, MS CHEM
022023 Page 4 of 12
QUIRINO STATE UNIVERSITY
College of Criminal Justice Education
father of modern chemistry. Some of his contributions in the field of chemistry are
as follows; quantitative experimentation using accurate measurements,
organization of chemical data, chemical nomenclature, law of conservation of mass
in chemical change, and explained the theory of combustion.
Number
There are also two types of properties being measured, the macroscopic and
microscopic properties. Macroscopic properties can be measured or determined
directly using measuring instruments like the meter stick, thermometer, graduated
cylinder, beam balance, barometer, and many others. Microscopic properties
must be determined using an indirect method. It is difficult to determine directly
microscopic properties because they usually exist in an atomic or molecular scale.
Instrument / Accuracy
Equipment
Thermometer ±0.2 oC
Buret ±0.02 mL
Pipet ±0.02 mL
Graduated cylinder ±0.1 mL
Meterstick ±0.1 cm (±1 mm)
Top-loading balance ±0.001 g (±1 mg)
Analytical balance ±0.0001 g (±0.1 mg)
exponent (power). It is said that all of the digits in a number are considered
significant because the zeros are no longer used to set the placement of the decimal
point.
Scientific notation could be expressed as written in the mathematical symbols
below:
N = Number between 1 & 10 in a positive or
negative
N x 10 n Integer.
10 = Number of times 10 is multiplied by itself.
n = Exponent or power
There are only two guidelines to take note in applying scientific notations.
However, in applying these guidelines, the rounding off numbers should also be
considered. In this text, we shall used only one convention in rounding off
numbers, that is, if the number to be drop is equal or greater (≥) than 5, we will add
one to the number to the number preceding it. However, if the number to be drop
is equal or lesser than 4 (≤), then, we will retain the number preceding it.
of places the decimal point is moved to the right indicates the number of
power or
exponent.
From the seven SI base units, only the units of length, mass, time,
temperature, and amount of substance will be frequently utilized in our study of
chemistry. The rest of the units will no longer be used in studying the behavior,
properties, and changes that occur in matter. However, derived units like volume,
density, pressure, and many others will also be included in this course.
Table 1.3 shows the prefixes used for the multiples and submultiples of SI
units.
Table 1.3 Prefixes Used with SI Units
For convenience, we will be using the prefixes from milli (m) to kilo (k) to the
following units of length, mass, and volume. The corresponding units like meter
(m), gram (g) and liter (L) will be used as base units for length, mass, and volume,
respectively. In this text, you learn that changing the base units of meter, gram,
and liter will only change the quantity being measured but not for the
corresponding value of the prefixes. Refer to Table 1.4 for the application of these
base units.
It is also important to know the unit relationship between the SI units and
the English units of measurement. The following are list of unit relationship
between the SI and English units of measurements for length, mass, volume, and
pressure:
The units of density and temperature are also relevant in understanding the
nature of matter. Density (d) is the mass of substance divided by its volume. On
the other hand, temperature (T) is a quantitative measure for the degree of
hotness or coldness of a body. Temperature is also the measure of the average
kinetic energy of the molecules of matter. Below are the units for density and
formulas for the conversion of temperature of substances.
1 g / mL = 1000 kg / m 3 K = 273 + o
C
o o
1g/L = 0.001 g / mL F = 9 / 5 C + 32
o
C = 5/9 ( oF - 32)
or
Example:
1.50 km = ______ mm
6
1.50 km x 1000000 mm = 1.50 x 10 mm or it could be,
1 km
1.50 km x 10 hm x 10 dam x 10 m x 10 dm x 10 cm x 10 mm =
1.50 x 10 6 mm
1 km 1 hm 1 dam 1m 1 dm 1 cm
Performance Check 1
On Measurement
Date Accomplished:_____________
Name:________________________________________ Course and Year:_____________
Subject:______________________________________ SCORE:_____________________
1. Significant Figures
Identify the number of significant figures in the following items below:
2. Scientific Notation
Write the scientific notation of the following numbers in three significant
figures:
1) 0.000023056 = ________________ 6) 569321 = _______________
2) 0.000236005 = ________________ 7) 963990 = _______________
3) 0.000000964 = ________________ 8) 6323.10 = _______________
4) 0.00000006912 = ______________ 9) 84063.99 = ______________
CHEM 101 C College of
QUIRINO STATE
Criminal Justice
General Chemistry and UNIVERSITY
CCJE
Developed by: Education
Organic DENSON M. LIDAY, MS CHEM
022023 Page 11 of 12
QUIRINO STATE UNIVERSITY
College of Criminal Justice Education
3. SI Units
Convert the following units into the desired SI units by applying the Factor –
Label method: Show all pertinent calculation and round off your final answers in
three significant figures.