Chapter 1: Matter, Measurement and Problem Solving

1. Round the following number so that only 3 significant digits are kept.
a. 0.005341
c. 20.35
e. 1.68500310
b. 15.3920
d. 0.0178500
Answer:
a. Since the first digit to be rounded off is 1, or less than half way, we should
round down to 0.00534.
b. Since the first digit to be rounded off is 9, or more than half way, we should
round up to 15.4.
c. Since the first digit to be rounded off is 5 and there is no digit afterward, it is
exactly half way. Since the third significant figure (the last digit to be kept, or
the preceding digit to the one to be rounded off) is 3, which is odd, we should
round it up to 20.4. Note that 20.35 is closer to 20.4 than 20.6. That means
we rounded to the nearest even number.
d. This is very similar to c, or is exactly half way, except that the preceding digit
is 8 instead, which is even. As a result, we should round it down to 0.0178.
e. Though the first digit to be rounded off is 5, there are non-zero digits after
this 5. This means that it is more than half way. As a result, we should round
it up to 1.69.
2. A student used water displacement to determine the density of a metal and
the following data was obtained: (X represents digits that are purposefully not
given)
Mass of metal = 2X.3048 g
Initial volume of water = 12.45 mL
Final volume of water = 16.XX mL
How many sig figs should the student keep for his density after calculation?
A. 2
B. 3
C. 4
D. 5
E. 6
Analyze: This problem involves two concepts. First, students must know how
to calculate density from water displacement experiment.

d=

mass
mass
2 X .3048 g
=
=
=? ? ? ? ? g /mL
volume final volumeinitial volume ( 16. XX12.45 ) mL

Second, students have to know the rules of significant figures in calculations

very clearly, especially when different types of calculations are involved, like
this one. Since subtraction/addition focuses more on decimal places, the
result of the subtraction/addition may have less or more significant figures
than each of the number being subtracted or added. In this particular
problem, missing numbers made it even more challenging. We have to

separate the calculation into two steps: first consider the subtraction and
rationalize how many sig figs we should have for this step; then the second
step, which is much easier, is to rationalize how many sig figs are there for
the overall calculation.
Solution:
Step 1: Rationalize the displaced volume (16.XX 12.45), which is the same
as the volume of the metal
Though the first number is missing, it should be larger than 16.00 and
smaller than 16.99. As a result, the result for this step should be larger than
3.55 (= 16.00 12.45) and smaller than 4.54 (= 16.99 12.45). No matter
what, when only up to hundredth is kept, there should have only 3 significant
figures for the subtraction step.
Note: Indeed you can use any digit to replace these two Xs

2 X .3048
Step 2: Rationalize the density, or the overall calculation (
X . XX )
Notice that I used X.XX to represent the volume of the metal since it should
have 3 sig figs, based on the discussion in Step 1. Now it is just a division and
the result should carry the same sig figs as the number with less sig figs. As a
result, the calculated density should have 3 sig figs, though we do not know
the exact value. So the answer is B.
3. Drew Brees, a Purdue product, set a new record for NFL regular season
passing yardage in 2011: 5476 yds. Convert it to meters, given: 1 in = 2.54
cm.
Analyze: The goal is very simple and we are trying to convert from yards to
meters, or a English unit to a metric unit for distance. The conversion given
between in and cm clearly indicated the following steps:

yd cm m

Solution:

1m
=5007 m
100 cm
2.54 cm
12

1 ft
3 ft
5476 yd

1 yd

4. The density of copper is 8.96 g/mL. Convert it to ounces per cubic inch
(oz/in3) so that you may communicate with others in US. 1 lb = 454 g, 1 in =
2.54 cm
Common Sense in Chemistry: 1 mL = 1 cm 3
Analyze:
Since 1mL = 1 cm3, 8.96 g/mL is the same as 8.96 g/ cm3. Now we
need to convert g/ cm3 into oz/in3. For unit like this one, we can express the
unit as multiplication or division of multiple units, and we need to convert
each individual unit to the desired ones. Here we need to convert g to oz, and
cm3 to in3. When certain unit has raised power such as cm 3 here, extra
caution should be taken!
Solution:
Though all steps can be written together as one lone conversion, it is
easier to understand to separate them into individual steps.
Step 1: Convert grams (g) within the unit into ounces (oz)

8.96

g
g
1lb
16 oz
oz
=8.96 3

=0.31577 3
mL
cm 454 g 1 lb
cm

Step 2: Convert

cm 3 into

1
2.54 cm

oz
0.31577 3
cm
Note: Since the starting density has 3 sig figs, we should expect 3 sig figs for
the newly converted density. However, to reduce errors due to rounding,
intermediate step (step 1 here) should keep at least one additional digits than
desired. I kept two more in step 1.
5. A new fuel, which has a molar mass of 112 g/mol and a density of 0.712
g/mL, is used in an automobile test run. The energy released by the fuel is
5.55 103 kJ/mol. The automobile has a 20.6-gal fuel tank. The energy
delivered by the combustion of the fuel is 5.62 10 4 kJ/h at 60.0 mph. What
is the cruising range (in miles) of the automobile on a full tank, assuming all
the energy is transferred to the wheels? Given: 1 gal = 3.875 L.
Analyze:
When a problem contains lots of information, it is easy to get confused and
we may not know where to start. Problem solving is to make a connection
between what are given and what are needed, often using our existing

knowledge to fill the gaps in between. So listing the GIVEN and FIND first may
help us organize our thought.
When we solve a problem, it is very common to start with known and
hopefully get to the unknown. However, in analyzing complicated problems
like this one, it may be more usefully to start with unknown, and then go back
to what we already know. Units, as demonstrated in lecture, can serve very
important tool to trace the problem solving steps (Dimensional Analysis).
Solution:
Step 1: List what are given and what we try to find. Many of the known are
expressed as conversion factors, which are extremely important in
dimensional analysis.
Given:molar mass = 112 g/mol
1 mol = 112 g
Density = 0.712 g/mL

1 mL = 0.712 g
Energy of fuel = 5.55 103 kJ/mol

1 mol = 5.55 103 kJ

Size of tank = 20.6 gal
Energy delivered = 5.62 104 kJ/hr

1 hr = 5.62 104 kJ
Speed = 60. mph

1 hr = 60 mi
1 gal = 3.875 L
Need to find: miles (mi) for one tank of fuel (20.6 gal); or convert gals into
miles with all different strange things we have never learned yet
Step 2: Start with 20.6 gal and use all conversion factors to solve the
problem. Cancelation of units for each step should be watched very carefully!

20.6 gal
= 300 7 mi

3.875 L 1000 mL 0.712 g 1 mol 5.55 103 kJ

1 hr
60 mi

4
1 gal
1L
1mL
112 g
1 mol
5.62 10 kJ 1 hr