Chapter 2

Measurements in Chemistry
 Questions to be Answered
• What does a measurement involve?
• How do you make measurements
properly?
• How do we convert between
measurements of one unit to
measurements of a new unit?
 Physical Quantities
• Physical quantities – measured physical
properties
– Number
– Unit
 Proper Measurements
• Number
– Reflect the certainty to which the
measurement was made

• Unit
– Represent the type of measurement made
• Mass
• Volume
• Length
Measurement and Significant Figures
• Number
– Certain digits - all digits that
can be stated as fact
• Read from smallest digit
– One Uncertain digit – the
first digit that is estimated
• No additional digits should
be recorded

– Ruler practice

– Uncertainty always exist in

the last digit of a number
• Balance example
Physical Quantities
Physical Quantities
 Measuring Mass
• Mass is a measure of the amount of
matter in an object. Mass does not depend
on location.

• Weight is a measure of the gravitational

force acting on an object. Weight depends
on location.

• Chemist measure grams or milligrams

 Measuring Length and Volume
• Length has the SI unit of meter (m)

• Volume = length x width x height

– Units – m3
– Chemist tend to use milliliters (mL) or Liters
(L)
 Measuring Temperature
• 3 scales
– Fahrenheit
– Celsius
– Kelvin
 Measuring Temperatures
• Converting Between Temperature Scales
– F = (1.8 x oC) + 32
o

– K = oC + 273.15
 Problem
• Isopropyl alcohol, commonly known as
rubbing alcohol, boils at 82.4°C. What is
the boiling point in kelvins? 
– A.  387.6 K
– B.  355.6 K
– C.  323.6 K
– D.  190.8 K
– E.  -190.8 K
 Problem
• Acetic acid boils at 244.2°F. What is its
boiling point in degrees Celsius? 
– A.  382.0°C
– B.  167.7°C
– C.  153.4°C
– D.  117.9°C
– E.  103.7°C