Scientific

Measurement This Photo by Unknown Author is licensed under CC BY-SA-NC

1. Accuracy and
Precision in
Measurements
2. Significant figures in
Measurement and
Calculations

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 ACCURACY
AND
PRECISION
IN
MEASUREMENTS
ACCURACY AND PRECISION IN MEASUREMENTS
Chemistry is an experimental science.
Measurements are important in conducting experiments, recording
data and observations and making conclusions.
However, measurements are not only related to experiments done in
the laboratory.
 Objectives:

1. Differentiate 2. Identify different

between precision and sources of errors in
accuracy measurements
PRECISION

The precision of a set of measurements refers to

how close each measurement is to one another.

The precision is good if the individual

measurements are close to the average.

The precision is poor if the measurement have a

wide deviation from the average value.
ACCURACY

Refers to the closeness of the average value to

the actual or true value, or most probable value.

Precise measurements are most likely to be

accurate.

However, measurements with high precision

can be inaccurate.
 Sample Problem:
The standard measure of a table’s length is 16cm. A students measured
the length of the table three times. Tell whether the student’s
measurement are accurate, precise, or both.

1st measurement 15.54 cm

2nd measurement 16.01 cm
3rd measurement 16.05 cm
Quiz:1/2 sheet of paper. Part I
Four students need to measure how much of an unknown substance should be put
in their experiment. They made three measurements each having different scales.
Determine whether their measurement are precise, accurate, or not, given that the
standard measurement of the unknown substance is 80.06 g. Compute the total
and the the total average. Put a check if it’s precise or accurate, then X if it’s not.
Also, determine whose scale you will recommend at the bottom of the table.
1st 2nd 3rd TOTAL Total Average Precise Accurate
measurement measurement measurement

Student A 48.70 g 55.50 g 70.03 g

Student B 75.83 g 54.98 g 109.00 g

Student C 79.05 g 80.15 g 81.00 g

Student D 60.25 g 58.08 g 59.11 g

 Sources of Error
Sources of error in measurements can either be the measuring
instrument or the one taking the measurement.

An experiment may also

be a source of error if
he/she lacks the skill or
care in using measuring
An incorrectly calibrated instrument instruments.
like a digital balance
May yield a result 2.0 g lower than
the correct mass.
Summary:
• Measurements are subject to uncertainty and can be influenced by
sources of errors.
• Accuracy refers to how close the measured value is to the standard
value.
• Precision refers to how close the series of measured values are to one
another.
• Measurement can be accurate and precise, accurate but not precise,
precise but not accurate, or neither accurate nor precise.
Significant Figures
Pertains to the digits or figures that are
certain to give reasonably reliable
information. Significant figures are helpful in
attaining a level of certainty when expressing
a calculated quantity.
 Objectives:

1. Determine the 2. Express

measurements in
number of
the correct number
significant figures of significant
in a number. figures.
Rules in determining Significant Figures
You can determine the number of significant figures of a measurement
by following these rules:

1.All nonzero digits (1 to 9) are

significant.
Examples:
749 mL has 3 significant figures
1 593 587 s has 7 significant figures
16.21 L has 4 significant figures

Nonzero Digits
Rules in determining Significant Figures
You can determine the number of significant figures of a measurement
by following these rules:

2. Zeros to the left of the first nonzero

digit are not significant.
Examples:
0.56 has 2 significant figures
0005869 has 4 significant figures
0.00001 has 1 significant figures

Leading Zeros
Rules in determining Significant Figures
You can determine the number of significant figures of a measurement
by following these rules:

3. Zeros between nonzero digits are

significant.
Examples:
4036 g has 4 significant figures
7.02 g has 3 significant figures
5.3900007 g has 8 significant figures

Captive Zeros
Rules in determining Significant Figures
You can determine the number of significant figures of a measurement
by following these rules:

4. Zeros at the right of the nonzero digit

with a decimal point are significant.
Examples:
95.70 mm has 4 significant figures
1.00 g has 3 significant figures
1895.0 cm has 5 significant figures

Trailing Zeros
Rules in determining Significant Figures
You can determine the number of significant figures of a measurement
by following these rules:

5. Zeros at the end of a nonzero digit

without a decimal point are not
significant.
Examples:
300 km has 1 significant figures
14 500 km has 3 significant figures

Final Zeros
Sample Problem: How many significant figures
are in each measurement?
1. 3.005 g.
2. 820 m
3. 0.000 670 km
4. 0.405 021 kg
5. 22.4 L
 Significant
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Figures in
Calculations
 Addition
and
Subtraction
In Addition and Subtraction, the number of decimal places of
the answer should be the same with the least number of
decimal places among the numbers being added or subtracted.
Example:
Express the answers to the correct number of significant figures.
a. Addition
2.051 mm + 3.56 mm + 72.1 mm The answer should be
only 1 decimal place
2.051 has 3 decimal places
+ 3.56 has 2 decimal places
72.1 has 1 decimal place
77.711 mm Correct Answer: 77.7 mm
In Addition and Subtraction, the number of decimal places of
the answer should be the same with the least number of
decimal places among the numbers being added or subtracted.
Example:
Express the answers to the correct number of significant figures.
b. Subtraction
32.63 g – 5.2 g
32.63 g The answer should be only 1
- 5.2 g decimal place
27.43 g
Correct Answer: 27.4 g
Multiplication
and
Division
In multiplication and Division, the answer should have the same
number of significant figures with the least number of significant
figures among the numbers being multiplied or divided.
Example:
Express the answers to the correct number of significant figures.
a. Multiplication
7.065 m x 12.0 m
7.065 has 4 significant figures
x 12.0 has 3 significant figures
84. 78 m2 The answer should have 3 significant figures

Correct Answer: 84.8 m2

In multiplication and Division, the answer should have the same
number of significant figures with the least number of significant
figures among the numbers being multiplied or divided.
Example:
Express the answers to the correct number of significant figures.
b. Division
162.05 m ÷ 3.2 𝑠
162.05 has 5 significant figures
÷ 3.2 has 2 significant figures
50.640625 m/s The answer should have 2 significant figures

Correct Answer: 51 m/s

Quiz 2
 Objectives:

1. Write 2. Convert
measurements numbers into
in scientific scientific notation
notation and vice versa
Scientific Notation
A way to express extremely large or small numbers easily
and efficiently. It has three parts:
• It is the number that is equal to or
coefficient more than one but less than ten.

• It is the number that is always 10 in

Base scientific notation.
• It is the number that determines how
Exponent many decimal places the decimal point
should be moved.
Converting numbers to Scientific Notation
Example 1: Convert 183 000 000 000 in scientific notation (Large Numbers)
üA number can always be written with a decimal point.
üTo convert large numbers in scientific notation, move the decimal point to
the left until you get a number that is equal to or more than 1 but less than
10, as the coefficient.
Note: The coefficient is composed of significant figures.
üThe number of the times the decimal point is moved determines the value
of the exponent.
üWhen a decimal point is moved to the left, the exponent will be positive.
ü183 000 000 000 when written in scientific notation will be
1.83 x 10 .
11
Converting numbers to Scientific Notation
Example 2: Convert 0.0000000000512 in scientific notation (Small Numbers)
üTo convert small numbers in scientific notation, move the decimal point to
the right until you get a number that is equal to or more than 1 but less
than 10, as the coefficient.
Note: The coefficient is composed of significant figures.
üThe number of the times the decimal point is moved determines the value
of the exponent.
üWhen a decimal point is moved to the right, the exponent will be negative.
ü0.0000000000512 when written in scientific notation will be

5.12 x 10-11.
Converting Scientific notation to standard Form
Example 1: Convert 2.58 x 106 to standard form.
üMove the decimal point to the right if the exponent is positive.
üThe exponent will tell how many decimal places the decimal point
will move.
ü2.58 x 106, when converted to standard form, will be
2 580 000
Converting Scientific notation to standard Form
Example 2: Convert 6.134 x 10-9 to standard form.
üMove the decimal point to the left if the exponent is negative.
üThe exponent will tell how many decimal places the decimal point
will move.
ü6.134 x 10-9, when converted to standard form, will be
0.000000006134
Quiz 3
Summary:
• Scientific Notation is a way of expressing extremely large or small
numbers easily and efficiently.
• Scientific notation has three parts: coefficient, base, and exponent.
• Coefficient is the number that is equal to or more than 1 but is less
than 10.
• The base is the number that is always 10 in scientific notation.
• The exponent is the number that determines how many decimal
places should the decimal point be moved.
Summary:
In converting numbers to scientific notation, follow these rules:
• If it is a large number, move the decimal point to the left until you get
a number that is equal to or more than 1 but less than 10. if it is a
small number, move the decimal point to the right until you get a
number that is equal to or more than 1 but less than 10. note that the
coefficient is composed of significant figures in the number.
• Count how many places the decimal point will be moved to
determine the exponent of the base.
• When a decimal point is moved to the left, exponent is positive.
When it is moved to the right, the exponent is negative.
Summary:
In converting numbers in scientific Notation to standard form, follow
these rules:
• Move the decimal point to the right if the exponent is positive. Move
the decimal point to the left if its is negative.
• The exponent will tell how many decimal places the decimal point
should be moved.
Units of
Measurement
Objectives:

1. Identify the
basic quantities
and their units of
measurement.
The usual parameters
measured in chemistry:
• Length
• Mass and Weight
• Volume
• Pressure
• Temperature
• Time
• Density
• Specific Gravity
 The systems of measurement
currently in use are:
The Metric system which uses the units
kilogram, meter, and second for measuring
mass, distance and time.
The English system employs units such as the
foot, pound, and second for measuring
distance, weight, and time.
In 1960, an international agreement set up a
system of units called the International System
of Weighs and Measures (or SI), which is
based on the metric system. The SI converts
one unit to another unit using prefixes such as
giga, mega, deci, centi, milli, and micro.
 MASS and WEIGHT
MASS is the actual quantity
of matter that a substance
contains, while WEIGHT is
a measure of the
gravitational attraction
exerted by the center of
gravity upon a body.
Conclusion: Mass is
constant, but weight is
variable.
Length
It is the distance between
two points. It is non-
directional and will,
therefore, include width
and depth or height.
Time
It is the interval
between two
events, and
employs units quite
familiar to us- days,
hours, minutes ,
and seconds.
 Volume
It is not a fundamental unit; it is derived from length.
A cube that measures 1 meter on each side has a volume of
1m3.
Volume is calculated by multiplying length by width and depth.
The unit liter (L), is a non-SI unit, but is commonly used in the
chemistry laboratory.
The milliliter (mL) and the cubic centimeter (cc or cm3) are
equivalent since 1L=1 dm3.
Volume is measured using graduated cylinder, a buret, a pipet,
or a volumetric flask.

1dm3 = 1 liter (L) = 1000 cm3 = 1000 mL

1 m3 = 1000 L
 Temperature
It is the degree of hotness or coldness of a body. It is
the property of matter that determines the direction
of heat transfer.
It is measured by a device called the thermometer.
Temperature scales have two fixed points, the boiling
point of water (212 oF, 100 oC and 273 K) and the
freezing point of water (32 oF, 0 oC, and 273 K).
The problem with the Fahrenheit and Celsius scale is
that zero degree of both scales does not correspond to
zero heat content.
Example: An object at 0 oC or 0 oF still retains some
heat.
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 Temperature
Lord Kelvin (1824-1907) invented a
scale of absolute temperature, where
at absolute zero, an object contains
absolutely no heat.
The zero point of the Kelvin scale,
corresponds to -273 oC.
Absolute zero is the temperature at
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which all motion of particulate
matter stops.
SAMPLE PROBLEM:
GIVEN:
C=150
For Fahrenheit use,

For Kelvin use,

QUIZ 4 – 1 whole sheet of paper.
Solve for Corresponding Fahrenheit and Kelvin using the given Celsius.
Show your solution.
1. 90 oC
2. 401 oC
3. 111 oC
4. 2 oC
5. -50 oC
Dimensional Analysis: Interconversion by
Factor Unit Method
Sample Problem 1: Calculate the number of kilograms in 310 lbs. Round
off your answer to the correct number of significant figures.
We know,
1 pound (lb) = 454 grams (g)
1000 g = 1 kg
Step 1: pounds àgrams àkilograms
Step 2: 310 lbs x 454 g x 1 kg = 140.74 kg
1 lb 1000 g
= 1.4 x 102 kg
Dimensional Analysis: Interconversion by
Factor Unit Method
Sample Problem 2: Calculate the number of milligrams in 2 short tons.
We know,
1 short ton (ST) = 2000 pounds lbs.
1 pound (lb) =454 g
1000 mg = 1 gram
Step 1: short ton àpounds àgrams àmilligrams
Step 2: 2st x 2000 lbs x 454 g x 1000 mg = 1 814 369 480 = 2 x 109 mg
1st. 1lb. 1g
= 2 x 109 mg
Dimensional Analysis: Interconversion by
Factor Unit Method
Sample Problem 3: Calculate the number of meters in 70 miles.
We know,
1 mile= 5280 ft
1 ft= 12 in
1 in= 2.54 cm
100 cm = 1 m
Step 1: miles àfeet àinches àcentimeters àmeters
Step 2: 70 miles x 5280 ft x 12 in x 2.54 cm x 1 m = 112 654.08 m
1mi 1ft 1in. 100 cm
= 1.1 x 105 m
Dimensional Analysis: Interconversion by
Factor Unit Method
Sample Problem 4: Calculate the number of seconds in 3 days.
Step 1: days àhours àminutes àseconds
Step 2: 3 days x 24 hr x 60 min x 60s = 259 200 s
1day 1hr 1min
= 2.6 x 105 s
Quiz 5- 1 whole sheet of paper
Convert the following quantities to the units indicated:
1. How many kilograms are present in 300.56 lbs?
2. How many milligrams are there in 2 metric tons?
3. Calculate the number of meters in 100 miles.
4. Calculate the number of seconds in 20 days.
5. Calculate the number of feet in 3 kilometers.
Reference:

Nucum, Zenaida. General

Chemistry 1.C & E Publishing,
Inc. pp. 42-69