Measurements
in Chemistry
SRCSI – SHS
STEM G12
17 June 2017
• Checking of Attendance Outline
• Quiz 01: Classification of Matter
• MEASUREMENTS in CHEMISTRY
• PERFORMANCE TASKS on SF
SIGNIFICANT FIGURES
MEASUREMENTS IN CHEMISTRY
ERRORS
• Mistakes - result of
carelessness, easily detected
• Errors - fall into two types,
systematic or random
ERRORS
• Systematic errors - due to
imperfections in instruments and/or
way experimenter does things
• Random errors - due to limitations
of the scale divisions of an
instrument
Precision
• The amount of information that the measuring
instrument can provide.
• The precision of a measuring tool depends on
how readable the tool is.
• Ruler example
– 14.5 m is all you can read off of a cm ruler
– To say that the line was 14.5678 would give the
impression that a very precise tool had been used
not a ruler.
What is the
Volume?
A Few Notes on Measurements
When measuring with a mechanical instrument (ruler, triple
beam balance etc), record all the digits that are marked on the
instrument’s scale and estimate (and only one) more digit.
When measuring with an electronic instrument, record all the
digits on the readout. Consider the last digit to be
approximate.
Round calculated answers only once, at the end of the
calculation, so that the number of significant digits reflects the
precision of the original measurements.
What is the Length?
1 2 3 4 cm
Learning Check
What is the length of the wooden stick?
1) 4.5 cm
2) 4.54 cm
3) 4.547 cm
? 8.00 cm
11
Measured Number
Do you see why Measured Numbers have
error…you have to make that Guess!
All but one of the significant figures are
known with certainty. The last significant
figure is only the best possible estimate.
To indicate the precision of a measurement,
the value recorded should use all the digits
known with certainty.
Below are two measurements of the mass of
the same object. The same quantity is being
described at two different levels of precision
or certainty.
RULES
SIGNIFICANT FIGURES
HOW MANY SIGNIFICANT FIGURES ARE
THERE IN EACH MEASUREMENT?
• 123 g
• 34,768 ng
• 2.789 g
• 9876.2346 m
SO WHAT IS THE RULE?
• 123 g 3 SF
• 34,768 ng 5 SF
• 2.789 g 4 SF
• 9876.2346 m 8 SF
ALL NON-ZERO DIGITS ARE
SIGNIFICANT.
RULE 01
HOW MANY SIGNIFICANT FIGURES ARE
THERE IN EACH MEASUREMENT?
• 30.08901 g
• 405007 cm
• 1000045000.08 g
SO WHAT IS THE RULE?
• 30.0890 g 6 SF
• 405007 cm 6 SF
• 1000045000.08 g 12 SF
ZEROS IN BETWEEN TWO NON-
ZERO DIGITS ARE SIGNIFICANT.
RULE 02: CAPTIVE ZEROS
HOW MANY SIGNIFICANT FIGURES ARE
THERE IN EACH MEASUREMENT?
• 200. g
• 1000 m
• 45.000 nm
• 20.00560000 pg
SO WHAT IS THE RULE?
• 200. g 3 SF
• 1000 m 1 SF
• 45.000 nm 5 SF
• 20.00560000 pg 10 SF
ZEROS FOLLOWING A NON-
ZERO DIGIT WITH A DECIMAL
POINT ARE SIGNIFICANT.
RULE 03: TRAILING ZEROS
HOW MANY SIGNIFICANT FIGURES ARE
THERE IN EACH MEASUREMENT?
• 0.009 m
• 0.0005608 nm
• .090900 Kg
• .00034067800 mm
SO WHAT IS THE RULE?
• 0.009 m 1 SF
• 0.0005608 nm 4 SF
• .090900 Kg 5 SF
• .00034067800 mm 8 SF
ZEROS TO THE LEFT OF THE FIRST
NON-ZERO ARE NOT SIGNIFICANT.
THEY ARE JUST PLACE HOLDERS.
RULE 04: LEADING ZEROS
Significant Figures
How many assuming all numbers are measured?
a). 75924
b). 30.002
c). 0.004320
d). 0.000002
e). 46,000
Significant Figures
How many assuming all numbers are measured?
a). 75924 (5 sig figs)
b). 30.002 (5 sig figs)
c). 0.004320 (4 sig figs)
d). 0.000002 (1 sig fig)
e). 46,000 (2 sig figs)
HOW MANY SIGNIFICANT FIGURES ARE
THERE IN EACH MEASUREMENT?
• 12 inches in 1 foot
• 100 years in a decade
• 42 students enrolled in chemistry
• 12 ripe mangoes
• 2.54 cm in an inch
Exact numbers, such as the
number of people in a room,
have an infinite number of
significant figures.
ON EXACT NUMBERS
• Exact numbers are counting up
how many of something are
present, they are not
measurements made with
instruments.
ON EXACT NUMBERS: COUNTING
NUMBERS
• Exact numbers arise by definition
such as 2.54 cm in an inch (2.54
cm = 1’) are referred to as
conversion factors that allow for
the expression of a value using
two different units.
ON EXACT NUMBERS: CONVERSION
FACTORS
Determining Significant Figures
State the number of significant figures in the following measurements:
2005 cm 4 0.050 cm 2
25,000 g 2 0.0280 g 3
25.0 ml 3 50.00 ml 4
0.25 s 2 1000 s 1
0.00250 mol 3 1000. mol 4
PERFORMANCE TASK 01
SIGNIFICANT FIGURES PRACTICE WORKSHEET
20 ITEMS
(CORRECT = 5 POINTS, WRONG = 1 POINT)
MATH WITH SIGNIFICANT FIGURES
When combining measurements
with different degrees of accuracy
and precision, the accuracy of the
final answer can be no greater than
the least accurate measurement.
MATH WITH SIGNIFICANT FIGURES
ADDITION & SUBTRACTION
• Count the number of significant figures in the
decimal portion of each number in the
problem. (The digits to the left of the decimal
place are not used to determine the number of
decimal places in the final answer.)
• Add or subtract in the normal fashion.
• Round the answer to the LEAST number of
places in the decimal portion of any number in
the problem.
Line up decimals and Add
150.0 g H2O (using significant figures)
0.507 g salt 150.5 g solution
150.5 g solution
150.0 is the least precise so the answer will have
no more than one place to the right of the
decimal.
Example
Answer will have the same number of decimal places as the least precise measurement used.
12.11 cm
18.0 cm
1.013 cm
31.132 cm
9.62 cm
71.875 cm
Correct answer would be 71.9 cm – the last sig fig is “8”,
so you will round using only the first number to the right of
the last significant digit which is “7”.
Addition and Subtraction
..56 + .153 = .713 .71 Look for the
last important
82000 + 5.32 = 82005.32 82000 digit
10.0 - 9.8742 = .12580 .1
10 – 9.8742 = .12580 0
MULTIPLICATION & DIVISION
• The LEAST number of significant figures in any
number of the problem determines the
number of significant figures in the answer.
Significant Figures
Multiplication and division of sig figs - your answer must
be limited to the measurement with the least number of
sig figs.
5.15 3 sig figs
X 2.3 2 sig figs
11.845 only allowed 2 sig figs
so 11.845 5 sig fig
is rounded to 12 2 sig figs
Multiplication and Division
Answer will be rounded to the same number of
significant figures as the component with the
fewest number of significant figures.
4.56 cm x 1.4 cm = 6.38 cm2
=
6.4 cm2
28.0 inches 2.54 cm
x
1 inch = 71.12 cm
Computed measurement is 71.12 cm
Answer is 71.1 cm
(1.245 + 6.34 + 8.179)/7.5
• Add
1.245 + 6.34 + 8.179 =
Then divide by 7.5 =
When Math Operations Are Mixed
If you have both addition/subtraction and
multiplication/division in a formula,
-carry out the operations in parenthesis first, and
round according to the rules for that type of operation.
-complete the calculation by rounding according to
the rules for the final type of operation.
When Math Operations Are Mixed
_____5.681g_____ =
(52.15ml - 32.4ml)
When Math Operations Are Mixed
_____5.681g_____ =
(52.15ml - 32.4ml)
-carry out the operations in
parenthesis first, and round according
to the rules for that type of operation.
When Math Operations Are Mixed
_____5.681g_____ = 5.681g
(52.15ml - 32.4ml) 19.8ml
When Math Operations Are Mixed
_____5.681g_____ = 5.681g (4 sig figs)
(52.15ml - 32.4ml) 19.8ml (3 sig figs)
-complete the calculation by rounding
according to the rules for the final type of
operation.
When Math Operations Are Mixed
_____5.681g_____ = 5.681g (4 sig figs)
(52.15ml - 32.4ml) 19.8ml (3 sig figs)
ANSWER: 0.287g/ml
-complete the calculation by rounding according to
the rules for the final type of operation.
Multiplication and division
32.27 1.54 = 49.6958 49.7
3.68 .07925 = 46.4353312 46.4
1.750 .0342000 = 0.05985 .05985
3.265010 4.858 = 1.586137 10
6 7 1.586 107
6.0221023 1.66110-24 = 1.000000 1.000
PERFORMANCE TASKS 2&3
SIGNIFICANT DIGIT WORKSHEET:
36X3 = 108+2 = 110
SIGNIFICANT FIGURES WORKSHEET:
(1)24+(2)15+(3)30+(3)K6=75
DIMENSIONAL ANALYSIS
Conversion Factors
• Conversion factors
– A ratio that specifies how one unit of
measurement is related to another
• Creating conversion factors from equalities
– 12 in.= 1 ft 12 in
1 or
1 ft
=1
1 ft 12 in
1L 1000 mL
1 or =1
– I L = 1000 mL 1000 mL 1L
Dimensional Analysis
How many seconds are in 2.0 minutes?
2.0 minutes x 60 seconds =
1 minute
120 seconds (exactly)
Dimensional Analysis
• A problem solving method in which the units
(associated with numbers) are used as a guide in
setting up the calculations.
desired unit
Measuremen t in given unit x Answer in desired units
given unit
Conversion Factor
English to Metric Conversion Factors
Dimensional Analysis
What is 165 lb in kg?
STEP 1 Given: 165 lb Need: kg
STEP 2 Plan
STEP 3 Equalities/Factors
1 kg = 2.205 lb
2.205 lb and 1 kg
1 kg 2.205 lb
STEP 4 Set Up Problem
Problem 01
• The average age of a high school
junior is 16.5. How many minutes
old is the average high school junior?
• [1yr = 365 days; 1day = 24 hours; 1 hour = 60
minutes]
Problem 02
• A typical person has about 200 mg of
cholesterol per 100 mL of blood. If the
total blood volume of an individual is
5.0 L, how many grams of total blood
cholesterol does the individual contain?
• [ 1L blood = 1000 mL blood; 200 mg
cholesterol = 100 mL blood]
Problem 03
• Because you never learned dimensional
analysis, you have been working at a fast food
restaurant for the past 35 years wrapping
hamburgers. Each hour you wrap 184
hamburgers. You work 8 hours per day. You
work 5 days a week. You get paid every 2
weeks with a salary of P840.34. How many
hamburgers will you have to wrap to make
your first one million pesos?
Assignment
PERFORMANCE TASK
Name the technique and outline the process
which are suitable for separating the following
mixture:
1. To obtain drinking water from muddy water.
2. To separate petrol from crude oil.
3. To remove leaves from a swimming pool.
4. To obtain pure salt, sugar and naphthalene
from sugar-salt-naphthalene solution.
5. To determine whether the coloring in a fruit
juice is a single substance or a mixture of
colored susbtances.
