1. Introduction to General Chemistry Ch. 1.6 - 1.9
Lecture 2
Suggested HW:
33, 37, 40, 43, 45, 46

2. Accuracy and Precision
Accuracy defines how close to the correct answer you are. Precision defines how repeatable your result is. Ideally, data should be both accurate and precise, but it may be one or the other, or neither.
Accurate, but not precise. Reached the target, but could not reproduce the result.
Precise, but not accurate. Did not reach the target, but result was reproduced.
Accurate and precise.
Reached the target and the data was reproduced.

3. Measuring Accuracy Accuracy is calculated by percentage error (%E)
We take the absolute value because you can’t have negative error.
GROUP PROBLEM
- A certain brand of thermometer is considered to be accurate if the %E is < 0.8%. The thermometer is tested using water (BP = 100oC). You bring a pot of distilled water to a boil and measure the temperature 5 times. The thermometer reads: o, 100.4o, 99.8o, 101.0o, and 100.4o. Is it accurate?

4. Measuring Precision: Significant Figures
Precision is indicated by the number of significant figures. Significant figures are those digits required to convey a result.
There are two types of numbers: exact and inexact
Exact numbers have defined values and possess an infinite number of significant figures because there is no limit of confidence:
* There are exactly 12 eggs in a dozen
* There are exactly 24 hours in a day
* There are exactly 1000 grams in a kilogram
Inexact number are obtained from measurement. Any number that is measured has error because:
Limitations in equipment
Human error

5. Measuring Precision: Significant Figures
Example: Some laboratory balances are precise to the nearest cg (.01g). This is the limit of confidence. The measured mass shown in the figure is g.
The value has 5 significant figures, with the hundredths place (9) being the uncertain digit. Thus, the (9) is estimated, while the other numbers are known.
It would properly reported as ±.01g
- The actual mass could be anywhere between … g and … g. The balance is limited to two decimal places, so it rounds up or down. We use ± to include all possibilities.

6. Determining the Number of Significant Figures In a Result
All non-zeros and zeros between non-zeros are significant
457 (3) ; 2.5 (2) ; 101 (3) ; 1005 (4)
Zeros at the beginning of a number aren’t significant. They only serve to position the decimal.
.02 (1) ; (1) ; (4)
For any number with a decimal, zeros to the right of the decimal are significant
2.200 (4) ; 3.0 (2)

7. Determining the Number of Significant Figures In a Result
Zeros at the end of an integer may or may not be significant
130 (2 or 3), (1, 2, 3, or 4)
This is based on scientific notation
130 can be written as:
1.3 x  2 sig figs
1.30 x 102  3 sig figs
If we convert 1000 to scientific notation, it can be written as:
1 x 103  1 sig fig
1.0 x  2 sig figs
1.00 x  3 sig figs
1.000 x  4 sig figs
*Numbers that must be treated as significant CAN NOT disappear in scientific notation

8. Calculations Involving Significant Figures
You can not get exact results using inexact numbers
Multiplication and division
Result can only have as many significant figures as the least precise number
𝑐𝑚 𝑥 𝟓.𝟖𝟐 𝑐𝑚= 𝑐 𝑚 2 =36.2 𝑐 𝑚 2
(3 s.f.)
𝑚 0.𝟗𝟖 𝑠 = 𝑚 𝑠 =110 𝑚 𝑠 𝑜𝑟 1.1 𝑥 𝑚 𝑠
(2 s.f.)
𝑘𝑔 𝑥 𝟒 𝑚 𝑠 2 = 𝑘𝑔 𝑚 𝑠 2 = 𝑘𝑔 𝑚 𝑠 2 𝑜𝑟 2 𝑥 𝑘𝑔 𝑚 𝑠 2
(1 s.f.)

9. Calculations Involving Significant Figures
Addition and Subtraction
Result must have as many digits to the right of the decimal as the least precise number
20.4
1.322 83

10. Limit of certainty is the ones place
Group Work
Using scientific notation, convert to 3 sig. figs.
Using scientific notation, convert to 1 sig. fig.
H= cm
W = .40 cm
L = cm
Volume of rectangle ?
Surface area (SA = 2WH + 2LH + 2LW) ?
note: constants in an equation are exact numbers
=2 4.0𝑐 𝑚 𝑐 𝑚 2 +2(1𝟐.4𝑐 𝑚 2 )
Limit of certainty is the ones place
=8.0𝑐 𝑚 𝑐 𝑚 2 +2𝟒.8𝑐 𝑚 2
=65𝟐.8𝑐 𝑚 2 =653𝑐 𝑚 2

11. Dimensional Analysis
Dimensional analysis is an algebraic method used to convert between different units
Conversion factors are required
Conversion factors are exact numbers which are equalities between one unit set and another.
For example, we can convert between inches and feet. The conversion factor can be written as:
In other words, there are 12 inches per 1 foot, or 1 foot per 12 inches.

12. Dimensional Analysis conversion factor (s)
Example. How many feet are there in 56 inches?
Our given unit of length is inches
Our desired unit of length is feet
We will use a conversion factor that equates inches and feet to obtain units of feet. The conversion factor must be arranged such that the desired units are ‘on top’
𝟓𝟔 𝑖𝑛𝑐ℎ𝑒𝑠 𝑥 1 𝑓𝑜𝑜𝑡 12 𝑖𝑛𝑐ℎ𝑒𝑠 = 𝑓𝑡
4.7 ft

13. Group Work
Answer the following using dimensional analysis. Consider significant figures.
Convert 35 minutes to hours
Convert 40 weeks to seconds
Convert 4 gallons to cm3 (1 gallon = 4 quarts and quart = mL)
*35 𝒎𝒊𝒍𝒆𝒔 𝒉𝒓 to 𝒊𝒏𝒄𝒉𝒆𝒔 𝒔𝒆𝒄 (1 mile = 5280 ft and 1 ft = 12 in)

14. High Order Exponent Unit Conversion (e.g. Cubic Units)
As we previously learned, the units of volume can be expressed as cubic lengths, or as capacities. When converting between the two, it may be necessary to cube the conversion factor
Ex. How many mL of water can be contained in a cubic container that is 1 m3 3
Must use this equivalence to convert between cubic length to capacity
1 𝑚 3 𝑥 𝑐𝑚 1 0 −2 𝑚 𝑥 𝒎𝑳 𝒄 𝒎 𝟑
Cube this conversion factor
=1 𝑚 3 𝑥 𝒄𝒎 𝟑 𝟏 𝟎 −𝟔 𝒎 𝟑 𝑥 𝑚𝐿 𝑐 𝑚 3
=𝟏 𝒙 𝟏 𝟎 𝟔 𝒎𝑳

15. Group Work Convert 10 mL to m3 (c = 10-2)
Convert 100 L to µm3 (µ = 10-6)
Convert 48.3 ft2 to cm2 (1 in. = 2.54 cm)