Dimensional Analysis

Fractions and Percentages

MATEMATIKA DASAR
Dimensional Analysis
• To determine the units of a variable in an
equation
• To determine dimensionally whether the
equation is correct.
Exercise 1
• Conductivity, k ,of an ionic compound in
solution as the conductance G multipied by the
cell constant (l : A) k  G x  1 
 
 A
(a) units of the cell constant (l:A) ?
 m   1 
    
   
2
m m

(b) Unit of conductivity? Unit of conductance G is

Siemen (S)
k  S x m 1
Exercise 2.
• Show the following version of the Nerst equation
is incorrect. RT  O  
E  E  ln 
 R  

n  
• Answer:
V   V   JK 
mol 1 xK 
1
x1
1

not correct
Exercise 2.
• Should be:

V   V   JK
1

mol 1 xK 
x1

1 x Cmol 1

• Joule/coulomb = volt
• Correct

 RT  O  
E  E  ln 
 

nF  R  
Exercise 3
• A student in an exam cannot remember the full
details of the Clausius-Clayperon equation, but
does know the basic structure:
 P2    1 1 
ln     H evaporation   
 P1   T 2 T1 
• By looking at the dimensions, guess which term
is missing.
Exercise 3.
1  J mol 1
 1
 
1 
K K

1  J mol 1
 1
 K 
• Should be:

 P2  H evaporation  1 1 
ln     
 P1  R  T 2 T1 
1 1
Unit of R  J K mol
Exercise 4.
• Blagden’s Law:
 mass of solute  1000
T  K cryoscopic x  x
 molar mass of solute  mass of solvent
• Where K(cryoscopic) has the units K kg mol-1.
• Use dimensional analysis to make an ‘intelligent
guess’ which parts of following equations are
missing.
SI Physical quantities
Physical Quantity Symbol SI Unit Abbreviation

Length l metre m

Mass m kilogram kg

Time t second s

Electrical current I ampere A

Thermodynamic T kelvin K
temperature

Amount of material n mole mol

Luminous intensity Iv candela cd

Combination of SI fundamental
quantities
Quantity Symbol SI Unit Non-SI Unit

Acceleration a m s-2 -
• Physical Quantity
• Symbol ρ
Density kg m-3 -

• SI Unit E
Energy kg m2 s-2 J

• AbbreviatF
Force kg m s-2 N

Potential  kg m2 s-3 A-1 V

Pressure P kg m-1 s-2 Pa

The multiplication of fractions
a x
• For two terms: a
x
x

b y b y

• For many terms:

y

a c y
 numerators
  ...   z
a

b d z
 deno min ators
b
Exercise 5.
• Barium carbonate is a partially soluble solid. A
sample of BaCO3 is immersed in a beaker of
water and left to reach equilibrium.
• Equilibrium constant of dissolution :
Ksp = [Ba2+][CO32-]
• At the end of the reaction, the concentration of
Ba is (5/36) mol dm-3 and the concentration of
CO32- is (2/70) mol dm-3
Exercise 5.
• What is the value of the equilibrium constant,
Ksp?
• Answer:
5 2 10
Ksp  x 
36 70 2520

 3,97  10 3 (mol.dm 3 ) 2
Addition of fractions
a c ad  bc
 
b d bd

• Exercise 6.
• A chemist mixes two solutions of phenol. The
first contain one third a mole of phenol, and the
second contains two fifth of a mole. How many
moles of phenol does the combined mixture
contain?
Addition of fractions
Answer:
1 2 5  6 11
   mol
3 5 15 15
Substraction of fractions
Exercise 7.
• A solution of silver nitrate contains (2/7) mole of
silver ion. Potassium chloride is titrated into the
solution, causing precipitation:
• Ag+ (aq) + Cl- (aq)  AgCl (s)
• The amount of Ag+ ion losts is (4/29) mole. How
much silver ion remains?
• Answer:
2 4 30
  mol
7 29 203
Dividing by a fraction
Exercise 8.
• Powder paracetamol (P) is to be incorporated
into tablets. A bottle contain 22,5 g of P. Each
tablet needs 200 mg of P. How many tablets can
be obtained from this bottle?
• Answer:
22,5 : 0,2 = 112, 5.
The sample of P will form 112 tablets, with a
small amount left over.
Percentages
• Exercise 9.
• What is the elemental composition by mass of
aspirin (C9H8O4)
Answer:
▫ The mass of carbon: 9x12 g=108 g
▫ The mass of hydrogen: 8x1 g=8 g
▫ The mass of oxygen: 4x16=64 g
▫ The molar mass: (108+8+64) g=180 g
• % carbon = (108/180) x 100 = 60%
• % hydrogen = 4%
• % oxygen=36%.