1. CHAPTER 1 Matter & Measurement
General, Organic, & Biological Chemistry
Janice Gorzynski Smith

2. CHAPTER 1: Matter & Measurement
Learning Objectives:
Definition of matter
Solids, liquids, and gases
Physical vs chemical properties and changes
Pure substances: Elements & Compounds
Mixtures: Heterogeneous vs Homogeneous
Units of the metric system & common prefixes
Measured vs exact numbers
Significant figures: identify & use in calculations
Scientific Notation
Conversion factors for calculations to cancel units
The three temperature scales
Density and Specific Gravity
Smith. General Organic & Biolocial Chemistry 2nd Ed.

3. Smith. General Organic & Biolocial Chemistry 2nd Ed.
Matter
Definition
Matter is anything that has mass and takes up volume.
Naturally occurring:
cotton
sand
digoxin, a cardiac drug
Synthetic (human-made):
nylon
Styrofoam
ibuprofen
Use modeling kit!
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4. Smith. General Organic & Biolocial Chemistry 2nd Ed.
Matter
Solids, Liquids, Gases
The Solid State:
The Liquid State:
The Gas State:
A solid has a definite volume.
A liquid has a definite volume.
A gas has no definite shape; it assumes the shape of its container.
It maintains its shape regardless of its container.
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It takes the shape of its container.
It has no definite volume; it assumes the volume of its container.
Solid particles lie close together in a regular pattern.
Liquid particles are close together but can move past one another.
Gas particles are very far apart and move around randomly.
Smith. General Organic & Biolocial Chemistry 2nd Ed.

5. Smith. General Organic & Biolocial Chemistry 2nd Ed.
Matter
Physical Properties
Physical properties can be observed or measured
without changing the composition of the material.
boiling point
melting point
solubility
color
odor
state of matter
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6. Smith. General Organic & Biolocial Chemistry 2nd Ed.
Matter
Chemical Properties
Chemical properties determine how a substance can
be converted into another substance.
Chemical change is the chemical reaction that
converts one substance into another (Chapters 5 and 6).
Use modeling kit!
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7. Smith. General Organic & Biolocial Chemistry 2nd Ed.
Matter
Pure Substances: Elements
Pure Substances
An element is a pure substance that cannot be broken down by a chemical change.
A pure substance is composed of only a single component (atom or molecule).
It has a constant composition, regardless of sample size or origin of sample.
Use modeling kit!
It cannot be broken down to other pure substances by a physical change.
aluminum metal (Al)
Smith. General Organic & Biolocial Chemistry 2nd Ed.

8. Smith. General Organic & Biolocial Chemistry 2nd Ed.
Matter
Pure Substances: Compounds
A compound is a pure substance formed by chemically joining two or more elements.
Use modeling kit!
table salt (NaCl)
Smith. General Organic & Biolocial Chemistry 2nd Ed.

9. Smith. General Organic & Biolocial Chemistry 2nd Ed.
Matter
Mixtures
All matter can be classified as either a pure substance or a mixture.
Mixtures
Mixtures are composed of more than one component.
They can have varying composition (any combination of solid, liquid, and gas).
Use modeling kit!
Mixtures can be separated into their components by a physical process.
Smith. General Organic & Biolocial Chemistry 2nd Ed.

10. Smith. General Organic & Biolocial Chemistry 2nd Ed.
Matter
Mixtures: Heterogeneous & Homogeneous
Use modeling kit!
Homogeneous
Mixture
Example: simple syrup
Heterogeneous
Mixture
Example: vinaigrette
Smith. General Organic & Biolocial Chemistry 2nd Ed.

11. Matter Definition Use modeling kit!

12. Smith. General Organic & Biolocial Chemistry 2nd Ed.
Measurements
Metric System
Each type of measurement has a base unit in the metric system.
Use modeling kit!
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13. Smith. General Organic & Biolocial Chemistry 2nd Ed.
Measurements
Common Prefixes
The prefix of the unit name indicates if the unit is larger or smaller than the base unit.
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14. Smith. General Organic & Biolocial Chemistry 2nd Ed.
Measurements
Common Prefixes
The base unit of length is the meter (m).
1 kilometer (km) = 1,000 meters (m)
1 km = 1,000 m
1 millimeter (mm) = meters (m)
1 mm = m
1 centimeter (cm) = 0.01 meters (m)
1 cm = 0.01 m
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15. Smith. General Organic & Biolocial Chemistry 2nd Ed.
Measurements
Common Prefixes
Mass is a measure of the amount of matter in an object.
Weight is the force that matter feels due to gravity.
The base unit of mass is the gram (g).
1 kilogram (kg) = 1,000 grams (g)
1 kg = 1,000 g
1 milligram (mg) = grams (g)
1 mg = g
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16. Smith. General Organic & Biolocial Chemistry 2nd Ed.
Measurements
Common Prefixes
The base unit of volume is the liter (L).
1 kiloliter (kL) = 1,000 liters (L)
1 kL = 1,000 L
1 milliliter (mL) = liters (L)
1 mL = L
Volume = Length x Width x Height
= cm x cm x cm
= cm3
1 mL = 1 cm3 = 1 cc
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17. Smith. General Organic & Biolocial Chemistry 2nd Ed.
Measurements
Units
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Smith. General Organic & Biolocial Chemistry 2nd Ed.

18. Smith. General Organic & Biolocial Chemistry 2nd Ed.
Measurements
Exact Numbers
An exact number results from counting objects or is
part of a definition.
10 fingers
10 toes
1 meter = 100 centimeters
An inexact number results from a measurement or
observation and contains some uncertainty.
Use modeling kit!
15.3 cm g mL
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19. Smith. General Organic & Biolocial Chemistry 2nd Ed.
Measurements
Significant Figures
Significant figures are all the digits in a measured
number including one estimated digit.
All nonzero digits are always significant.
65.2 g
65.2 g g g
Use modeling kit!
3 sig. figures
6 sig. figures
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20. Smith. General Organic & Biolocial Chemistry 2nd Ed.
Measurements
Significant Figures
Rule 1: A zero counts as a significant figure when
it occurs:
between two nonzero digits
29.05 g
29.05 g mL mL
4 sig. figures
5 sig. figures
at the end of a number with a decimal place
Use modeling kit! cm cm
620. lb
620. lb
5 sig. figures
3 sig. figures
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21. Smith. General Organic & Biolocial Chemistry 2nd Ed.
Measurements
Significant Figures
Rule 2: A zero does not count as a significant figure
when it occurs:
at the beginning of a number mg mg
0.008 mL
0.008 mL
3 sig. figures
1 sig. figure
at the end of a number that does not have a decimal
Use modeling kit!
2570 m
2570 m m m
3 sig. figures
5 sig. figures
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22. Smith. General Organic & Biolocial Chemistry 2nd Ed.
Measurements
Significant Figures:
Multiplication & Division
Multiplication/Division Rules: The answer has the same number of significant figures as the original number with the fewest significant figures.
4 sig. figures
351.2 miles
351.2 miles
miles =
Use modeling kit!
hour
5.5 hour
5.5 hour
2 sig. figures
Answer must have
2 sig. figures.
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23. Smith. General Organic & Biolocial Chemistry 2nd Ed.
Measurements
Significant Figures:
Multiplication & Division
to be retained
to be dropped
miles =
64 miles
hour
hour
first digit to be dropped
2 sig. figures
Answer
If the first digit
to be dropped is:
Then:
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between 0 and 4
drop it and all remaining digits
between 5 and 9
round up the last digit
to be retained by adding 1
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24. Smith. General Organic & Biolocial Chemistry 2nd Ed.
Measurements
Significant Figures:
Addition & Subtraction
Addition/Subtraction Rules: The answer has the same number of decimal places as the original number with the fewest decimal places.
10.11 kg
10.11 kg
2 decimal places
3.6 kg
3.6 kg
1 decimal place
6.51 kg
answer must have
1 decimal place
Use modeling kit!
final answer
1 decimal place =
6.5 kg
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25. Smith. General Organic & Biolocial Chemistry 2nd Ed.
Measurements
Scientific Notation
In scientific notation, a number is written as:
y x 10x
Exponent:
Any positive or negative
whole number.
Coefficient:
A number between
1 and 10.
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26. Smith. General Organic & Biolocial Chemistry 2nd Ed.
Measurements
Scientific Notation
When the exponent x is positive, move the decimal point x places to the right.
2.800 x 102 =
280.0
When the exponent x is negative, move the decimal point x places to the left.
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2.80 x 10–2 =
0.0280
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27. Smith. General Organic & Biolocial Chemistry 2nd Ed.
Measurements
Conversion Factors
Conversion factor: A term that converts a quantity in
one unit to a quantity in another unit.
original
quantity
conversion factor
desired x =
Conversion factors are usually written as equalities.
Use modeling kit!
2.21 lb = 1 kg
To use them, they must be written as fractions.
2.21 lb
1 kg or
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28. Smith. General Organic & Biolocial Chemistry 2nd Ed.
Measurements
Conversion Factors
Factor-label method: Using conversion factors to convert a quantity in one unit to a quantity in
another unit.
units are treated like numbers
make sure all unwanted units cancel
To convert 130 lb into kilograms:
Use modeling kit!
130 lb x
conversion factor
? kg =
original quantity
desired quantity
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29. Smith. General Organic & Biolocial Chemistry 2nd Ed.
Measurements
Conversion Factors
2.21 lb
1 kg
Answer
2 sig. figures
130 lb x or
1 kg
2.21 lb =
59 kg
The bottom conversion factor has
the original unit in the denominator.
Use modeling kit!
The unwanted unit lb cancels.
The desired unit kg does not cancel.
Smith. General Organic & Biolocial Chemistry 2nd Ed.

30. Temperature is a measure of how hot or cold an object is.
Measurements
Temperature
Temperature is a measure of how hot or cold an object is.
Three temperature scales are used:
Degrees Fahrenheit (oF)
Degrees Celsius (oC)
Kelvin (K)
To convert from oC to oF:
To convert from oF to oC:
oC = oF − 32
1.8
oF = 1.8(oC)
Use modeling kit!
To convert from oC to K:
To convert from K to oC:
K = oC
oC = K − 273
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31. Smith. General Organic & Biolocial Chemistry 2nd Ed.
Measurements
Temperature
Use modeling kit!
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32. Smith. General Organic & Biolocial Chemistry 2nd Ed.
Measurements
Density
Density: A physical property that relates the mass of
a substance to its volume.
mass (g)
density =
volume (mL or cc)
To convert volume (mL) to mass (g):
To convert mass (g) to volume (mL):
Use modeling kit! g mL mL x = g g x = mL mL g
inverse of density
density
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33. Smith. General Organic & Biolocial Chemistry 2nd Ed.
Measurements
Specific Gravity
Specific gravity: A quantity that compares the density
of a substance with the density of water at the
same temperature.
density of a substance (g/mL)
density of water (g/mL)
specific gravity =
The units of the numerator (g/mL) cancel the
units of the denominator (g/mL).
The specific gravity of a substance is equal to its
density, but contains no units.
Smith. General Organic & Biolocial Chemistry 2nd Ed.