Making Measurements and Sigfigs

❑ Volume
❑ Temperature
❑ Mass
 SI Prefixes
Common to Chemistry
Prefix Unit Abbr. Exponent
Kilo k 103
Deci d 10-1
Centi c 10-2
Milli m 10-3
Micro μ 10-6
The Fundamental SI Units
(le Système International, SI)
Kilogram
b
 Metric Conversions
g
m
103 102 101 L 10- 10-2 10-3
1

kilo hecto deka Base deci centi milli

unit

Conversions in the metric system are merely a

matter of moving a decimal point. The “base
unit” means the you have a quantity (grams,
meters, Liters, etc without a prefix.
SI Volume Units
 Metric Conversions
g
m
103 102 101 L 10- 10-2 10-3
1

kilo hecto deka Base deci centi milli

unit
1 2 3
18 L

18 liters = 18 000 milliliters

Example #1: Convert 18 liters to milliliters
 Metric Conversions
g
m
103 102 101 L 10- 10-2 10-3
1

kilo hecto deka Base deci centi milli

unit
3 2 1
450 mg = 0.450 g 450 mg

Example #2: Convert 450 milligrams to grams

 Metric Conversions
g
m
103 102 101 L 10- 10-2 10-3
1

kilo hecto deka Base deci centi milli

unit
1 2 3 4 5 6
20 kg

20 kg = 20 000 000 mg
Example #3: Convert 20 kilograms to milligrams
 Temperature Scales

• The Celsius scale was devised by Anders Celsius, a

Swedish astronomer.
• He used the temperatures at which water freezes and boils to
establish his scale because these temperatures are easy to
reproduce.
 Temperature Scales

• The Kelvin scale was devised by a Scottish

physicist and mathematician, William
Thomson, who was known as Lord Kelvin.

• A kelvin (K) is the SI base unit of

temperature.
• On the Kelvin scale, water freezes at about
273 K and boils at about 373 K.
 The Nature of Measurement
A Measurement is a quantitative
●
observation consisting of TWO parts

● Part 1 - number
● Part 2 - scale (unit)
● Examples:
● 20 g
● 6.63 x 10-34 J/s
 Significant figures in measurements
● The digits in the measurement up to and including the first
uncertain digit are the significant figures of the measurement.
● 62cm3 has two sigfigs.

● 100.00g has five sigfigs.

● (The zeros are significant here as they signify that the

uncertainty range is (±) 0.01 g).
 Rules for Counting Significant Figures

● Nonzero integers always count as

significant figures.

● 3456 has 4 significant figures

 Rules for Counting Significant Figures

● Leading zeros do not count as significant

figures.

● 0.0486m

● 3 significant figures
 Rules for Counting Significant Figures

● Captive zeros always count as significant

figures.

● 16.07
● 4 significant figures
 Rules for Counting Significant Figures

● Trailing zeros are significant only if the

number contains a decimal point.

● 9.300
● 4 significant figures
 Rules for Counting Significant Figures

● Exact numbers have an infinite number of

significant figures.

● 1 car = 1.0000000000 car

● We don’t usually refer to 1.5 cars. Exact numbers
are sometimes called certain numbers.
 Rules for Counting Significant Figures
● Exact numbers have an infinite number of
significant figures.

● 1 km = 1000 m

● This really means

● 1.0000000 km = 1000.0000m
 Sig Fig Practice #1
How many significant figures in each of the
following?
1.0070 m → 5 sig figs

17.10 kg → 4 sig figs

100,890 L → 5 sig figs

3.29 x 103 s → 3 sig figs

0.0054 cm → 2 sig figs

3,200,000 → 2 sig figs

Rules for Significant Figures in Mathematical
Operations

● Multiplication and Division: The number of

sigfigs in the result equals the number in the
least precise measurement used in the
calculation.

● 6.38 x 2.0 =12.76 → 13 (2 sig figs)

 Sig Fig Practice #2
Calculation Calculator says: Answer

3.24 m x 7.0 m 22.68 m2 23 m2

100.0 g ÷ 23.7 cm3 4.219409283 g/cm3 4.22 g/cm3

0.02 cm x 2.371 cm 0.04742 cm2 0.05 cm2

710 m ÷ 3.0 s 236.6666667 m/s 240 m/s

1818.2 lb x 3.23 ft 5872.786 lb·ft 5870 lb·ft

1.030 g ÷ 2.87 mL 0.35888 0.359

g/mL g/mL
 Rules for Significant Figures in
Mathematical Operations

● Addition and Subtraction: The number of

decimal places in the result equals the number of
decimal places in the least precise measurement.

● 6.8 + 11.934 =
● 18.734 → 18.7 (3 sig figs)
 Sig Fig Practice #3
Calculation Calculator says: Answer

3.24 m + 7.0 m 10.24 m 10.2 m

100.0 g - 23.73 g 76.27 g 76.3 g

0.02 cm + 2.371 cm 2.391 cm 2.39 cm

713.1 L - 3.872 709.228 L 709.2 L

L
1818.2 lb + 3.37 lb 1821.57 lb 1821.6 lb

2.030 mL - 1.870 mL 0.16 mL 0.160 mL

 Precision and Accuracy
● Accuracy refers how close a measured value is to the
actual (true) value.
● Precision refers to how close the measured values are to
each other.
● .

Neither Precise but not Precise AND

accurate nor accurate accurate
precise
 Types of Error
● Random Error (Indeterminate Error) -
measurement has an equal probability of being
high or low.
● Systematic Error (Determinate Error) - Occurs in
the same direction each time (high or low), often
resulting from poor technique or incorrect
calibration.
 Uncertainty
● Uncertainty depends on the instrument
you are using to measure.

● The margin of error (the +/-) is built into the

measuring devices you are using.

● Some electronic balances have +/- written

on them.
 Why Is there Uncertainty?
❖ Measurements are performed with instruments.

❖ No instrument can read to an infinite number

of decimal places.
 Uncertainty
● A simple rule of thumb is the
uncertainty is half the smallest
division seen on the measuring
device.

● For example, if the ruler measures

in mm, the uncertainty is +/- 0.5
mm

This powerpoint was kindly donated to www.worldofteaching.com and modified by Shawn Krause and Susan
Henderson
 Reading the Meniscus

Always read volume from

the bottom of the
meniscus. The meniscus
is the curved surface of
a liquid in a narrow
cylindrical container.
 Try to avoid parallax errors.
Parallax errors arise when a meniscus or needle is
viewed from an angle rather than from straight-on
at eye level.

Incorrect: viewing the Correct: Viewing the

meniscus meniscus
from an angle at eye level
 Use the graduations to find all certain digits

There are two

unlabeled graduations
below the meniscus,
and each graduation
represents 1 mL, so
the certain digits of
the reading are…
52 mL.
 Estimate the uncertain digit and take a
reading

The meniscus is
about eight tenths
of the way to the
next graduation, so
the final digit in
the reading is 0.8 mL
.
The volume in the graduated cylinder is 52.8 mL.
 10 mL Graduate
What is the volume of liquid in the graduate?

6
_ .6 2 mL
_ _
 25mL graduated cylinder
What is the volume of liquid in the graduate?

1
_1 5 mL
_ . _
 Self Test
Examine the meniscus below and determine
the volume of liquid contained in the
graduated cylinder.
The cylinder contains:

7
_6_ . 0
_ mL
 The Thermometer
o Determine the
temperature by reading
the scale on the
thermometer at eye
level.
o Read the temperature by using all certain digits and
one uncertain digit.
o Certain digits are determined from the calibration
marks on the thermometer.
o The uncertain digit (the last digit of the reading) is
estimated.
o On most thermometers encountered in a general
chemistry lab, the tenths place is the uncertain digit.
 Do not allow the tip to touch the walls or the
bottom of the flask.
If the thermometer bulb
touches the flask, the
temperature of the glass
will be measured instead
of the temperature of
the solution.
Readings may be
incorrect, particularly if
the flask is on a
hotplate or in an ice
bath.
 Reading the Thermometer
Determine the readings as shown below on
Celsius thermometers:

8 _
_ 7 . _°C
4 3
_5 0
_ . _°C
 Uncertainty
● Uncertainty indicates the degree to which we are sure of
the measurement.

● The significance (smallest place value) must match the

value of the uncertainty (±)
● Ex. 46.3 ± 0.1

● Note: The least significant place is the 10ths place and the
uncertainty is in the 10th place.
 Calculations with Uncertainty
● If we are uncertain of the measurement then
how can we use the measurement in a
calculation?

● ex 325.67 ± 0.05 g – 85.28 ± 0.05 g

 Adding and subtracting
● Add the value of the uncertainties
● Ex. 23.5 ± 0.1 g + 33.6± 0.1 g = 57.1 ± 0.2 g

● The mass of a beaker is 238.56 ± 0.05 g. The mass of a

beaker and liquid is 382.33 ± 0.05 g. What is the mass of the
liquid?

● What is the total amount of liquid if 58.1 ± 0.5 mL is added

to 79 ± 1?
 Multiplying and Dividing
● Add the relative uncertainties
● Ex. 35.0 ± 0.5 g / 64.21 ± 0.05 mL

● Step 1 Solve the problem without uncertainties

● Step 2. Add the relative uncertainties
● 35.0 ± 0.5 g / 64.21 ± 0.05 mL

● Step 3. To get absolute uncertainty:

● 1.5% of 0.545 = 0.015 x 0.545 = 0.00817 ≈ 0.008
● Final Answer 0.545 ± 0.008 g/mL
● Try this
● Find the volume of a solid that has the following dimensions
23.0 ± 0.1mm x 15.3 ± 0.1mm x 6.8 ± 0.1 mm.
 Percent Error
Used to determine how accurate your final results are.

%error = (experimental value – true value) X 100

(true value)
Systematic Error – Error in accuracy, an error that is
constantly repeated, human error/ignorance, inaccurate equipment, cannot be
reduced by repetition.

Random Error – Error in precision, caused by unknown and unpredictable changes

in measurement, reduced by repetition, requires you to record uncertainties.

This powerpoint was kindly donated to www.worldofteaching.com and modified by Shawn Krause, Susan Henderson and Pinck
Steiner.