Measurements

Measurement is very important in chemistry, as it is in other science-based research or experiments.

Because it serves as the bases of the fact that we now know very well today.

Every measurement provides three kinds of information:

the size or magnitude of the measurement (a number, significant figures, can be a scientific
notation, example in pdf);
a standard of comparison for the measurement (a unit);
and an indication of the uncertainty of the measurement.
Uncertainty - degree of error in the measurement (to have confidence on the results)

Sample problem for Scientific Notations

5
298,000 kg 2.98 x 10 kg
−6
0.0000025 kg 2.50 x 10 kg
0.00154 m
1,900,091 kg
5
2.98 x 10 kg
4
3.7 x 10 s

Units
We usually report the results of scientific measurements in SI units, International Standard for Units
(in french Systeme International d’Unites)
Base SI units (m, kg, s, K, A, mol, cd)
kg
Derived SI units (m 3, , … joule, newton, hertz, pascal..)
m3
Volume - m 3, c m 3, mL, L
kg g g
Density - 3 , 3, ,…
m cm L
Less dense - float
More dense/denser - sinks

Sample problem for density

1. Lead is a dense substance, but its density is not as great as that of gold, 19.3 g/cm3. What is the
density of lead if a cube of lead has an edge length of 2.00 cm and a mass of 90.7 g?

https://www.simbucket.com/density/
Accuracy and Precision

Measurements are said to be precise if they yield very similar results when repeated in the same
manner.
A measurement is considered accurate if it yields a result that is very close to the true or accepted
value.
Precise values agree with each other; accurate values agree with a true value.

Compare dispenser #1, #2, #3

Significant Figures of Measurement

When using a glassware, we need to understand how to get the measurements of it. To measure the
volume of liquid in a graduated cylinder, you should make a reading at the bottom of the meniscus,
the lowest point on the curved surface of the liquid.

Now measuring volume can result to some uncertainties. It could be the observer’s problem, or it
could also be the glassware problem.

So usually the last digits have those uncertainties. These are now called significant figures or digits
(can be insignificant or significant).
In problems, or in the experiments that you are about to conduct, you might find yourself debating if
the values you are dealing with are significant.

That is why there are some things you need to know in order for you to have a value that is
significant.

There are terms to remember

 Captive Zero
 Trailing Zero
 Leading Zero

What is significant.
1. All non-zeroes are considered significant
2. Zeroes after a decimal are significant
3. Captive zeroes are significant
4. Leading zeroes are not significant
Leading zeroes can either be significant (measured accurately), or they could be
placeholders. This could be resolved by expressing them into scientific notation.

Rounding Numbers
1. In adding or subtracting, round the value with the same number of decimal places as the number
with the least number of decimal places
Example; 1.00 kg + 1.0 kg = 2.0 kg
2. In multiplying or dividing, round the value with the same number of digits as the number with the
least number of significant figures
Example; 1.00 kg x 1.0 kg = 1.0 kg
1.000 kg x 1.0 kg = 1.0 kg
3. If there are values to be dropped due to the significant figures required in rounding off, the next
digit that is less than 5, leave the previous digit unchanged. If the next digit is more than five, the
previous digit is to be increased by one. If the the next digit is exactly five, look at the previous digit
and if it is even, round down, if odd, round up.
Example; 31.57 (to three significant figures) = 31.6
31.54 (to three significant figures) = 31.5
31.57 (to two significant figures) = 32 (the next digit is 5, the previous digit is odd
so round up)
0.051065 (to four significant figures) = 0.05106 (the next digit is 5, the previous
digit is even so round down)

Test

1. (a) To three decimal places, what is the volume of a cube (cm3) with an edge length of 0.843 cm?

2. If the cube in part (a) is copper and has a mass of 5.34 g, what is the density of copper to two
decimal places?

3.) 0.424 (to two significant figures)

4.) 0.0038661 (to three significant figures)
5.) 421.25 (to four significant figures)
6.) 28,683.5 (to five significant figures)
7.) 28,000 (to 1 significant figures)