Units of Measurement

Precision vs Accuracy
 Types of Observations and
Measurements

 We make QUALITATIVE observations of

reactions — changes in color and physical
state.

 We also make QUANTITATIVE

observations that involve
MEASUREMENTS with numbers and
units.
 NO NAKED
NUMBERS

A measurement always has two parts:

A value
A unit of measurement

Example:
200 meters; 15 ml; 13.98 grams
Scientific Measurement
 Measurement is the process of comparing a known
quantity like a measuring device to an unknown quantity or
the things or objects to be measured.

- It is the process of determining how many times a

certain quantity is contained in a standard measuring
device.

For example, to measure the length of a rope, a meterstick

is used because it contains the standard length of one
meter (m)
METRIC – The Universal Language of
Scientific Measurement
The metric system is often referred to as the
International System of Units, or SI.

Fundamental Quantities are quantities that

can be measured directly using measuring
devices.
 In Chemistry we use SI Units of measure
International System of Units
 These are the base units that we will be working with:
 Seven Basic or Fundamental Units in
the SI:

1. Mass (m)
 It is the measure of the amount of matter.
 The standard unit is the kilogram (kg).
 It is measured using the triple beam balance or the equal
arm balance.

2. Length (l)
 It is a distance between two distinct points.
 The basic unit is the meter (m).
 It is measured by using a metric ruler.
3. Time (t)
 It is the regular interval between two successive points.
 The standard unit of time is the second (s).

4. Temperature (T)
 It is the measure of the hotness or coldness of an object.
 Kelvin (K) is used as the basic unit.

5. Electric current (I)

 It is the measure of the flow of electrons or charges.
 An ammeter is used to measure current expressed as
Ampere (A).
6. Luminous intensity (E)
 It is the amount of illumination received by an object.
 The unit of measure used to describe this is candela
(cd).

7. Amount of substance (n)

 It is the number of moles.
 The basic unit is the mole or mol
 From these base units, we can combine them using
mathematical operations to obtain derived units.
 Some of the derived units we will be using include:
 Density (g/ml)
 Area (m2 )
 Volume (m3 )
Metric Prefixes

 Kilo- means 1000 of that unit

 1 kilometer (km) = 1000 meters (m)

 Centi- means 1/100 of that unit

 1 meter (m) = 100 centimeters (cm)
 1 dollar = 100 cents

 Milli- means 1/1000 of that unit

 1 meter (m) = 1000 millimeters (mm)
Mass and Weight

Mass and weight are directly related as

long as we remain on earth at the same
elevation. That is, if one object has
twice the mass of another, then its weight
on earth would also be twice as large.
 Mass and Weight

• Weight is force of the

gravitational pull on an
object (pounds, measured
with a scale). It would be
different on the moon than it
is on earth.
• Mass is a measure of the
amount of matter in an
object. (grams, measured
with a BALANCE)
Measuring Volume:

 The volume of a liquid is

measured with a graduated
cylinder. When liquid is poured
into the cylinder, a curved surface
called the meniscus is formed.
3 Kinds of Numbers:
1. Exact numbers or counted numbers – are expressed as exact
whole numbers. These are obtained by counting rather than
measuring.
Examples: 734 boxes 1000pieces of papers

2. Defined Relations – the numbers comes from definition not

measurement.
Examples: 1L = 1000ml 1ft = 12 inches

3. Measured numbers – come from reading measuring devices,

they are never exact. Use calibrated measuring devices.
Examples: 20.98g 1.541ml
Measured Numbers
When you use a measuring tool is used to
determine a quantity such as your height or
weight, the numbers you obtain are called
measured numbers.
Exact Numbers
 Obtained when you count objects
2 soccer balls
1 watch
4 pizzas
 Obtained from a defined relationship
1 foot = 12 inches
1 meters = 100 cm
 Not obtained with measuring tools
Learning Check
Classify each of the following as an exact(e) or a
measured (m) number.
A.___Gold melts at 1064°C
B.___1 yard = 3 feet
C.___A red blood cell with diameter 6 x 10-4 cm
D.___There were 6 hats on the shelf
E.___A can of soda contains 355 mL of soda
Solution
Classify each of the following as an exact (e) or a
measured(m) number. Give reason.
A. m Requires a thermometer(measuring tool)
B. e From a definition in U.S. system

C. m Need measuring tool to determine

D. e Counted the hats
E. m Measured
 Two types of instruments used to take
measurements.
 Digital display -measurement is displayed
electronically by machine (Ex: electronic
balance)
 Scaled instrument -instruments has
numbered lines to determine measurement
(Ex: ruler)
 REMEMBER TO INCLUDE THE DIGIT OF
UNCERTAINTY IN YOUR MEASUREMENT.

A digit that must be estimated is called
uncertain.

A measurement always has some degree of
uncertainty.

Record the certain digits and the first uncertain
digit (the estimated number).
Precision and Accuracy
Accuracy
• Agreement of a particular value with the true value.

Precision

• Degree of agreement among several measurements

of the same quantity.
Measurement
 Accurate means "capable of providing a correct
reading or measurement."

 In Chemistry: it means 'correct‘. How close you are to

the accepted value.
Measurement
Accurate
Measurement
X X
Precise X X X
X
Measurement
Can you be neither
accurate or precise?
Measurement
x This is a random like
pattern, neither precise
nor accurate. The darts
are not clustered together
x and are not near the bull's
eye.
x

x
Measurement
This is an accurate
pattern, but not precise.
x The darts are not
clustered, but their
'average' position is the
center of the bull's eye.

x x
x

x
Measurement
This pattern is both
precise and accurate. The
darts are tightly clustered
and their average position
is the center of the bull's
eye.

x
xxx
x
 Example: Accuracy

 Who is more accurate when measuring a book

that has a true length of 17.0 cm?
Susan:
17.0 cm, 16.0 cm, 18.0 cm, 15.0 cm

Amy:
15.5 cm, 15.0 cm, 15.2 cm, 15.3 cm
 Precision
 Precision = describes how closely measurements are
to each other and how carefully measurements were
made
 Which set is more precise?
18.2 , 18.4 , 18.35
17.9 , 18.3 , 18.85
16.8 , 17.2 , 19.44
 Example: Precision

Who is more precise when measuring the same

17.0 cm book?

Susan:
17.0 cm, 16.0 cm, 18.0 cm, 15.0 cm

Amy:
15.5 cm, 15.0 cm, 15.2 cm, 15.3 cm
 Accuracy vs. Precision
High Accuracy High Precision
High Precision Low Accuracy
 Can you hit the bull's-eye?

Three targets
with three arrows
each to shoot.

Both accurate Precise but Neither

How do they not accurate accurate nor
and precise
compare? precise

Can you define accuracy vs. precision?

 Exit Quiz: Evaluate whether the following
are precise, accurate or both.

High Accuracy
Low Accuracy Low Accuracy High Precision
Low Precision High Precision
GOLF
 Scientific Notation:
 A way of expressing a number in the form m x 10 n , where m is

less than 10 but greater than or equal to 1 and n is an integer.

 This expression is helpful in reporting a very large or a very
small number.

Examples:
12g of carbon contains 602,200,000,000,000,000,000,000 atoms
6.022 x 1023 atoms
Diameter of an atomic nucleus of carbon is 0.000000000000001m
1 x 10-15 m
Changing Units of Measurement:
Conversion factors (defined relations) – these factors change
the units without changing the value of the quantity.
Ex. 1kg = 1000g,
1in=2.54cm

Factor Label-Method (Dimensional Analysis Method)

Patterns:
1. given unit desired unit =
given unit

Ex. Convert 120lbs to kg (1kg = 2.21lbs)

120 lbs 1 kg = 54.30 kg

2.21 lbs
2. given unit intermediateunit desiredunit =
given unit intermediate unit

Ex. Convert 7.8 mi to m 1mile = 1.609km

1km=1000m

7.8 mi 1.609km 1000m = 12,550.2m

1 mi 1km
Significant Figures
Nonzero digits
Captive zeros
Leading zeros (not significant)
Trailing zeros
Final zeros