CHAPTER 2

Chapter 2. BASIC TOOLS OF

ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY

2.1. Numbers in Analytical Chemistry

2.2. Units for Expressing Concentration
2.3. Stoichiometric Calculations
2.4. Basic Equipment and Instrumentation
2.5. Preparing Solutions
Numbers in Analytical Chemistry
✓ Analytical Chemistry is said to be an analytical
science.

✓ Analytical Science in the sense that analytical

chemists engage in “measuring important chemical
things.”

✓ Thus, we need to review first the units of

measurements and significant figures in Analytical
Chemistry.
The Fundamental Units of Measurement
Table 1. Fundamental SI Units
Measurement Unit Symbol

Mass kilogram kg

Volume liter L

Distance meter m

Temperature kelvin K

Time second s

Current ampere A

Amount of substance mole mol

 Other SI and Non-SI Units
Table 2. Other SI and Non-SI Units
Measurement Unit Symbol Equivalent SI Units
length angstrom * Å 1 Å = 1 × 10–10 m
volume liter * L 1 L = 10–3 m3
force newton N 1 N = 1 m⋅kg/s2
pressure pascal Pa 1 Pa = 1 N/m3 = 1 kg/(m⋅s2)
1 atm = 101 325 Pa

atmosphere * atm

energy, work, heat joule J 1 J = 1 N⋅m = 1 m2⋅kg/s2

1 cal = 4.184 J
calorie * cal 1 eV = 1.602 177 33 × 10–19 J
electron volt * eV

power watt W 1 W = 1 J/s = 1 m2⋅kg/s3

charge coulomb C 1 C = 1 A⋅s
potential volt V 1 V = 1 W/A = 1 m2⋅kg/(s3⋅A)
frequency hertz Hz 1 Hz = s–1
temperature degree Celsius * °C oC = K – 273.15

degree Fahrenheit * °F °F = 1.8 (K – 273.15) + 32

Legend: * non-SI
Common SI Prefixes
Table 3. Common Prefixes for Exponential Notation
Prefix Symbol Exponential
Yotta Y 1024
zetta Z 1021
etta E 1018
peta P 1015
tera T 1012
giga G 109
mega M 106
kilo k 103
hecto h 102
deka da 101
deci d 10-1
centi c 10-2
milli m 10-3
micro µ 10-6
nano n 10-9
pico p 10-12
femto f 10-15
atto a 10-18
zepto z 10-21
yocto y 10-24
 Significant Figures
Table 4. Rules in Significant Figures
Rule Example
1. All non-zero digits are considered significant. 91 has two significant figures (9 and 1), while 123.45 has five significant figures (1, 2,
3, 4, and 5).
2. Zeros appearing between two non-zero digits (trapped 101.12 has five significant figures: 1, 0, 1, 1, and 2.
zeros) are significant.
3. Leading zeros (zeros before non-zero numbers) are not 0.00052 has two significant figures: 5 and 2.
significant.
4. Trailing zeros (zeros after non-zero numbers) in a number 400 has only one significant figure (4). The trailing zeros do not count as significant.
without a decimal are generally not significant
5. Trailing zeros in a number containing a decimal point are 12.2300 has six significant figures: 1, 2, 2, 3, 0, and 0.
significant.

0.000122300 still has only six significant figures (the zeros before the 1 are not
significant).

120.00 has five significant figures since it has three trailing zeros.

6. The number 0 has one significant figure. Therefore, any 0.00 has three significant figures.
zeros after the decimal point are also significant.

7. Any numbers in scientific notation are considered 4.300 x 10-4 has 4 significant figures.
significant.
ISO 9001:2015
TÜV-R 01 100
1934918

Significant Figures
Table 5. Rules in Significant Figures Calculations
Rule Example

1. In addition and subtraction, the final 0.05 g Fe

answer should contain the same number + 0.250 g Fe
of decimal places as the original number 0.300 g Fe
with the fewest number of decimal
places. Following the rule in addition, the final answer should be 0.30 g Fe.
3.002 mL H2O
- 0.7 mL H2O
2.302 mL H2O

Following the rule in subtraction, the final answer should be 2.3 mL H2O.

2. In multiplication and division, the final

answer in a problem should contain the 5.101 mg Ca
same number of significant figures as x 0.8 mg Ca
the original number with the fewest 4.0808 mg Ca
significant figures.
Following the rule in multiplication, final answer should be 4 mg Ca.
3.001 L H2O2
÷ 1.5 L H2O2
2.0007 L H2O2

Following the rule in division, final answer should be 2.0 L H2O2.

Thank you!
Prepared by:

REGGIE B. CAPISTRANO
Asst. Prof. I