Some basic concepts of

chemistry
Part - 3
Uncertainty in measurement

• Since the chemistry is the study of atoms and molecules which have
extremely low masses and are present in extremely large numbers, a
chemist has to deal with numbers as large as
602,200,000,000,000,000,000,000 for the molecules of 2 g of hydrogen
gas or as small as 0.00000000000000000000000166 g mass of a H atom.
• This problem is solved by using scientific notation for such numbers, i.e.,
exponential notation in which any number can be represented in the
form N × 10n where n is an exponent having positive or negative values
and N can vary between 1 to 10.
Precision & Accuracy

• Every experimental measurement has some amount of uncertainty

associated with it.
• Everyone wants the results to be precise and accurate.
• Precision and Accuracy are often referred to whenever we talk about
measurement.
• Precision refers to the closeness of various measurements for the same
quantity. It does not depend on true value.
• Accuracy is the agreement of a particular value to the true value of the
result. It depends on the true value.
 Significant figures

• The uncertainty in the experimental or the calculated values is indicated

by mentioning the number of significant figures.
• Significant figures are meaningful digits which are known with certainty.
• There are certain rules for determining the number of significant figures.
They are as follows:
• All non-zero digits are significant.
• For example: - There are 4 significant figures in 328.2 cm.
• Zeros preceding to first non-zero digit are not significant.
• For example: - 0.03 has one significant figure and 0.0052 has two
significant figures.
• Zeros between two non-zero digits are significant.
• For example: - 2.005 have four significant figures.
• Zeros at the end or right of a number are significant provided they are on
the right side of the decimal point.
• For example: - 200 g has three significant figures. But, if otherwise, the
zeros are not significant. For example, 100 have only one significant figure.
• Exact numbers have an infinite number of significant figures.
• For example:- In 2 balls or 20 eggs, there are infinite significant figures as
these are exact numbers and can be represented by writing infinite number
of zeros after placing a decimal i.e.,2 = 2.000000 or 20 = 20.000000.
• Addition & Subtraction
• The result cannot have more digits to the right of the decimal point than
either of the original numbers.
• For example: - (12.11 + 18.0+ 1.012) = 31.122. As 18.0 have only one digit after
the decimal point therefore the result will be 31.1, one digit after the decimal
point.
• Multiplication & Division
• In these operations, the result must be reported with no more significant
figures as are there in the measurement with the few significant figures.
• For example: - 2.5×1.25 = 3.125. Answer will be 3.1 because 2.5 have two
significant figures and the result should not have more than two significant
figures.
Dimensional Analysis

• When calculating, there is a need to convert units from one system to

other.
• The method used to accomplish this is called factor label
method or unit factor method or dimensional analysis.
• For example: - A jug contains 2L of milk. Calculate the volume of the milk in m3.
Law of chemical combination

• The combination of elements to form compounds is governed by the

following five basic laws:-
• Law of Conservation of Mass.
• Law of Definite Proportions.
• Law of Multiple Proportions.
• Gay Lussac’s Law of Gaseous Volumes.
• Avogadro Law.
Law of Conservation of Mass

• Law of conservation of mass states that the matter cannot be created

nor be destroyed.
• This law was put forth by Antoine Lavoisier in 1789.
• He performed careful experimental studies for combustion reactions for
reaching to the above conclusion.
Law of Multiple Proportions

• According to this law, if two elements can combine to form more than one
compound, the masses of one element that combine with a fixed mass of
the other element, are in the ratio of small whole numbers.
• For example: - Hydrogen combines with oxygen to form 2 compounds, water and
hydrogen peroxide.
• H2(2g) + (1/2)O2 (16g) à H2O (18g)
• H2(2g) + O2 (32g) àH2O2 (34g)
• The masses of oxygen O (16g and 32g) combine with the fixed mass of (2g)
hydrogen H. Therefore the simple ratio is 16:32 or 1:2.
• This law was given by Dalton in 1803.
Law of Definite Proportions

• According to this law, a given compound always contains exactly the

same proportion of elements by weight.
• This law was given by French chemist, Joseph Proust in 1806.
• He observed 2 samples of cupric carbonate.
• One was of natural origin and another was of synthetic origin.
• He found that the composition of elements present in it was same for
both the samples as shown below:-
Gay Lussac’s Law of Gaseous Volumes

• Gay Lussac’s law was given by Gay Lussac in 1808.

• He observed that when gases combine or are produced in a chemical
reaction they do so in a simple ratio by volume provided all gases are at
same temperature and pressure.
• For example: - H (Hydrogen) (100mL) + O (Oxygen) (50mL)à Water (100mL).
• The volumes of hydrogen (H) and oxygen (O) which combine together (i.e.
100mL and 50mL) bear a simple ratio of 2:1.
Avogadro Law

• In 1811, Avogadro proposed that equal volumes of gases at the same

temperature and pressure should contain equal number of molecules.
• He made distinction between atoms and molecules.
Thank you