1. Chapter 1 Chemistry and Measurements
General, Organic, and Biological Chemistry
Fourth Edition
Karen Timberlake
Chapter 1
Chemistry and Measurements
1.3 Units of Measurement
Lectures
© 2013 Pearson Education, Inc.

2. Measurement We use measurements in everyday life, such as
walking 2.1 km to campus,
carrying a backpack with a mass of 12 kg, and
observing when the outside temperature has reached 22 oC.

3. The Metric System (SI)
The metric system and SI (Système International)
are used
for length, volume, mass, temperature, and time,
in most of the world, and
everywhere by scientists.

4. Units in the Metric System
In the metric and SI systems, one unit is used for each
type of measurement.
Measurement Metric SI
Length meter (m) meter (m)
Volume liter (L) cubic meter (m3)
Mass gram (g) kilogram (kg)
Temperature Celsius (C) Kelvin (K)
Time second (s) second (s)

5. Length Measurement Length is measured using a meter stick.
uses the unit meter
(m) in both the metric and SI systems.
uses centimeters (cm) for smaller units of length.

6. Inches, Centimeters, and Meters
Useful relationships between units of length

7. Volume Measurement Volume is the space occupied by a substance.
uses the unit liter (L) in the metric system.
uses the unit cubic meter (m3) in the SI system.
is measured using a graduated cylinder in units of milliliters (mL).

8. Quarts, Liters, and Milliliters
Useful relationships between units of volume

9. Mass Measurement The mass of an object is
a measure of the quantity of material it contains.
measured in grams (g) for small masses.
is measured in kilograms (kg) in the SI system.
The standard kilogram for
the United States is stored at
the National Institute of
Standards and Technology.

10. Pounds, Grams, and Kilograms
Useful relationships between units of mass

11. Pounds, Grams and Kilograms
In a chemistry laboratory,
an analytical balance is
used to measure the mass
of a substance in grams.
On an electronic balance,
a nickel has a mass of
5.01 grams.

12. Temperature Measurement
measured on the Celsius (C) scale in the metric system,
measured on the Kelvin (K) scale in the SI system, and
18°C or 64°F on this thermometer.
Temperature indicates how hot or cold a substance is, and is

13. Time Measurement Time measurement
uses the unit second (s) in both the metric and SI systems.
uses an atomic clock to measure a second.

14. Days, Hours, Minutes, Seconds
Useful relationships between units of time

15. Learning Check ________ A. A 10.0 lb bag of tomatoes is 4.5 kg.
For each of the following, indicate whether the unit describes length, mass, or volume.
________ A. A 10.0 lb bag of tomatoes is 4.5 kg.
________ B. A person is 2.0 m tall.
________ C. A medication contains 0.50 g of aspirin.
________ D. A bottle contains 1.5 L of water.

16. Solution mass A. 10 lb A bag of tomatoes is 4.5 kg.
For each of the following, indicate whether the unit describes length, mass, or volume.
mass A. 10 lb A bag of tomatoes is 4.5 kg.
length B. A person is 2.0 m tall.
mass C. A medication contains 0.50 g of aspirin.
volume D. A bottle contains 1.5 L of water.

17. Learning Check Identify the measurement that has an SI unit.
1. John’s height is _____.
A yd B. 6 ft C m
2. The race was won in _____.
A s B min C h
3. The mass of a lemon is _____.
A. 12 oz B kg C lb
4. The temperature is _____.
A. 85 °C B K C. 45 °F

18. Solution Identify the measurement that has an SI unit.
1. John’s height is _____. C m
2. The race was won in _____. A s
3. The mass of a lemon is _____. B kg
4. The temperature is _____. B K