CHAPTER 1

INTRODUCTION TO MATTER
AND MEASUREMENT

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 CONTENTS

1.1 Introduction
1.2 Classification of Matter
1.3 Properties of Matter
1.4 Units of Measurement
1.5 Uncertainty in Measurement
1.6 Dimensional Analysis
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 Learning outcomes:

 Able to differentiate between the three states

of matter.
 Able to distinguish between elements,
compounds and mixtures.
 Able to distinguish between physical and
chemical properties.
 Able to use and convert different units of
measurement.
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 1.1 Introduction

 Chemistry is the study of properties of

materials and changes they undergo.
 Central role in science and technology.
 Has a high impact on our daily living, e.g.
health and medicine, energy and environment,
materials and technology and food and
agriculture.
 Able to contribute to problem solving analysis.
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 1.2 Classification of Matter

 Matter
 Physical material - anything that has mass and
occupies space.

 Classifications of Matters
 Matter can be classified according to its:
 Physical state (solid, liquid or gas)
 Composition (element, compound or mixture)
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 Classification
of Matter

Physical State Composition

Pure
Gas Mixture
substance

Liquid Element Homogeneous

Solid Compound Heterogeneous

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1.2.1 State of Matter (Physical
State)
 Gas
 no fixed volume/shape
 easy to compress/expand
 molecules are far apart
 move at high speed
 often collide

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 Con’t: 1.2.1 State of Matter
(Physical State)
 Liquid
 volume independent of
 container
 slightly compressible
 molecules closer than gas
 move rapidly but
 can slide over each other

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 Con’t: 1.2.1 State of Matter
(Physical State)
 Solid
 defined volume & shape
 Incompressible
 molecules packed closely in
 definite arrangement/rigid
 shape

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 1.2.2 Composition
 Pure Substance
 Matter with fixed composition and distinct
properties, E.g H2O , NaCl

(i) Elements
- simplest form of matter
- cannot be decomposed into simpler substances
by chemical means i.e only one kind of element
- can exist as atoms or molecules
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 Con’t: 1.2.2 Composition

 114 elements identified

 Each given a unique name organized in a Periodic
Table

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 Con’t: 1.2.2 Composition

(ii) Compounds
- substance composed of atoms of two or more
elements in fixed proportions
- can be separated only by chemical means
- exist as molecules (H2O, CO2)
- properties are different from the
elemental properties

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 Con’t: 1.2.2 Composition

 Mixture
 Combination of two or more substances, in which
each substance retains its own chemical identity.

(i) A Homogeneous mixture:

– components uniformly mixed
(one phase) e.g. air
– also called solutions (gaseous,
liquid, solid solutions)
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 Con’t: 1.2.2 Composition
(ii) A Heterogeneous mixture:
– components are not distributed uniformly (more
than one phase)
e.g. sand & rocks
sugar & sand

 Separating Mixtures (by physical means):

 basic techniques: filtration, floatation, crystallization,
distillation, extraction and chromatography.
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 1.3 Properties of Matter

 Properties of matter can be grouped into two

categories:
 Physical properties : measured and observed
without changing the composition or identity of a
substance. e.g. color, odor, density, melting point,
boiling point.
 Chemical properties : describe how substances
react or change to form different substances. e.g.
hydrogen burning in oxygen.
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Con’t: 1.3 Properties of Matter

 Properties of substance can be divided into two

additional categories:

 Intensive properties
Do not depend on the amount of the sample
present. e.g. temperature, melting point, density.
 Extensive properties
Depends on quantity present. e.g. mass, volume.

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 1.3.1 Physical and Chemical
Changes
 Changes in matter can involve either
chemical or physical changes.
 Physical change : substance changes physical
appearance but not composition. e.g. changes of
state :
liquid gas solid liquid
 Chemical change : substance transform into a
chemically different substance i.e. identify
changes. e.g. decomposition of water.
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 1.4 Units of Measurement
1.4 Units of Measurement
 SI Units
 1960 : All scientific units use Système International
d’Unités (SI Units).
 Seven base units :
Physical Quantity Name of Unit Abbreviation
Mass Kilogram Kg
Length Meter m
Time Second s (sec)
Electric current Ampere A
Temperature Kelvin K
Luminous intensity Candela cd
Amount of substance Mole mol
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 1.4.1 Length and Mass

 SI base unit of length : meter (m)

1 m = 1.0936 yards
 Mass :A measure of the amount of material in an
object.
SI base unit of mass : kilogram (kg)
1 kg = 2.2 pounds

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 1.4.2 Temperature
 Temperature is a measure of hotness or coldness
of an object
 3 temperature scales are currently in use:
(i) OF (degrees Fahrenheit)
(ii) OC (degrees Celsius)
(iii) K (Kelvin)
 Scientific studies commonly used
Celsius and Kelvin scales

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 Con’t: 1.4.2 Temperature

 Kelvin (SI Unit)

 Based on properties of gases
 0 K is the lowest temperature that can be
attained theoretically (absolute zero)
 0 K = -273.15C

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 Properties of water at sea level
Temperature
scale
Freezing point Boiling point

Fahrenheit, °F 32 212

Celcius, °C 0 100

Kelvin, K 273.15 373.15

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 Con’t: 1.4.2 Temperature

 Temperature conversions
 K = 0C + 273.15
 C = K - 273.15

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 F   C   32
5
5
C    F  32 
9
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 1.4.3 Volume

 SI unit of volume = (unit of length)3 = m3

 Generally, chemists work with much smaller
volumes:
 cm3 , mL or cc
1 cm3 = 1 mL = 1  10 -6 m3
1000 cm3 = 1 L
*Note: liter (L) is not an SI unit
1 dm 3 = 1  10 -3 m3
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 1.4.4 Density
 Widely used to characterize substances.
 Defined as mass divided by volume, d = mass (m)
volume (V)
 Unit : g/cm3
 Varies with temperature because volume changes with
temperature.
 Can be used as a conversion factor to change mass to
volume and vice versa.
 Common units :
 g/mL for liquid, g/cm3 for solid, g/L for gas.
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1.5 Uncertainty in Measurement

 Objectives

i. Determine the number of significant figures in

a measured quantity.

ii. Express the result of a calculation with the

proper number of significant figures.

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 Con’t: 1.5 Uncertainty in
Measurement
 Two types of numbers:
(i) Exact numbers - those that have defined
values or integers resulting from counting
numbers of objects. e.g. exactly 1000g in a
kilogram, exactly 2.54 in an inch.
(ii) Inexact numbers - those that obtained
from measurements and require judgement.
Uncertainties exist in their values.
Note : Uncertainties always exist in measured
quantities.
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 1.5.1 Precision and Accuracy

 Precision - how well measured quantities agree

with each other.

 Accuracy - how well measured quantities agree

with the “true value”.

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 Con’t: 1.5.1 Precision and
Accuracy

Good precision Poor precision

Good accuracy Good accuracy

Good precision
Poor precision
Poor accuracy
Poor accuracy
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 1.5.2 Significant Figures

 Measured quantities (inexact) are generally

reported in such a way that the last digit is the
first uncertain digit. (2.2405g)
 All certain digits and the first uncertain digit are
referred to as significant figures.

 Rules:
 (i) Non-zero numbers are always significant
e.g. 2.86 : has three significant figures.
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Con’t: 1.5.2 Significant Figures

 (ii) Zeros between non-zero numbers are always

significant. E.g. 1205 has four significant figures.

 (iii) Zeros before the first non-zero digit are not

significant. E.g. 0.003 : has one significant figure.

 (iv) Zeros at the end of a number after a decimal

place are significant.. E.g. 0.0020 : has two
significant figures.
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Con’t: 1.5.2 Significant Figures

 (v) Zeros at the end of a number before a decimal

place are ambiguous.
E.g. 100: has one significant number unless
otherwise stated. If it is determined from counting
objects, it has three significant figures.

 Method - Scientific notation removes the ambiguity of

knowing how many significant figures a number
possesses.
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Con’t: 1.5.2 Significant Figures

 Example:

 (i) 225, 2.25  102 : three significant figures (s.f.).

 (ii) 10.004, 1.0004  104 : five s.f.
 (iii) 0.0025, 2.5  10-3 : two s.f.
 (iv) 0.002500, 2.500  10-3 : four s.f.
 (v) 14 100.0, 1.41000  x 104 : six s.f.
 (vi) 14100, 1.4100  104, 1.41  104, 1.410  104 : could
have three, four or five s.f. - need knowledge.
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 1.5.3 Significant Figures in
Calculations
1.5.3.1 Addition (+) and Subtraction (-)
 Result must be reported to the least number of
decimal places.
 E.g. 20.4 g - 3.322 g = 17.1 g
 Other Examples:The final answer should have the same
uncertainty, with the greatest uncertainty.
 (i) 325.24 (uncertainty =  0.01)
21.4 (uncertainty =  0.1)
+ 145 (uncertainty =  1)
491.64 Answer : 492
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 Con’t:1.5.3.1 Addition (+) and
Subtraction (-)
 Other Examples:

 (ii) 12.25 + 1.32 + 1.2 = 14.77

1.2 has the greatest uncertainty ( 0.1)  the answer
must be rounded to one digit to the right of the
decimal point. Answer : 14.8

 (iii) 13.7325 - 14.21 = -0.4775, Answer: -0.48

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1.5.3.2 Multiplication () and Division
()
 Result must be to the least number of significant figures.
 E.g. 6.221 cm  5.2 cm = 32 cm2
 To round off the final calculated answer so that it has the
same number of significant figures as the least certain
number.
 Other Example:
 (i) 1.256  2.42 = 3.03952
The least certain/precise number is 2.42  3 significant
figures(s.f.).  The answer must be rounded to the 3 s.f.: 3.04

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Con’t: 1.5.3.2 Multiplication () and
Division ()
 Other Examples:

 (ii) 16.231 ÷ 2.20750 = 7.352661

The least precise number is 16.231 (5 s.f.).
 Answer is 5 s.f. : 7.3527

 (iii) (1.1)(2.62)(13.5278) ÷ 2.650 = 14.712121

The least precise number is 1.1 (2 s.f.).
 Answer must be rounded to 2 s.f. : 15
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 1.5.3.3 Rules for Rounding Off
Numbers
 (i) When the figures immediately following the last
digit to be retained is less than 5, the last digit
unchanged.
 e.g. 6.4362 to be rounded off to four significant
figures : 6.436
 (ii) When the figure immediately following the last
digit to be retained is greater than 5, increase the
last retained figure by 1.
 e.g 6.4366 to be rounded off to four significant
figures : 6.437
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 Con’t: 1.5.3.3 Rules for Rounding
Off Numbers
 (iii) When the figure immediately following the last digit
to be retained is 5, the last figure to be retained is
increased by 1, whether it is odd or even.
 e.g. 2.145 becomes 2.15 if three significant figures are
to be retained.

 (iv) When a calculation involves an intermediate answer,

retain at least one additional digit past the number of
significant figures.

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 1.6 Dimensional Analysis
 Objective: To be able to convert different
measurement units by using dimensional analysis.
 Dimensional Analysis is the algebraic process of
changing from one system of units to another.
 Conversion factors are used.
 A conversion factor is a fraction whose numerator
and denominator are the same quantity expressed in
different units.
 Given units are being multiplied and divided to give
the desired units.
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Con’t: 1.6 Dimensional Analysis
 Desired unit = given unit  conversion factor
conversion factor  (desired unit )
(given unit )
 In dimensional analysis, always ask three
questions:
 (i) What data are given?
 (ii) What quantity do we need?
 (iii) What conversion factors are available to
take us from what are given to what we need?
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 Example 1

 Quantity 1 in. = 2.54 cm yields two conversion factors

 2.54 cm and 1 in.
1 in. 2.54 cm
 Convert 5.08 cm to in. and 4.00 in. to cm
 5.08 cm  1 in. = 2.00 in.
2.54 cm
 4.00 in.  2.54 cm = 10.2 cm
1 in.
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 Example 2

 Convert 6.23 ft3 to the appropriate SI unit.

 ft3 to m3 and 3.272 ft = 1m

 (1 ft )3 = (1m)3
(3.272ft)3

  6.23 ft3 = 6.23 ft3  (1m)3 = 0.178 m3

(3.272ft)3
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 Exercise 1.1
 A person’s average daily intake of glucose is 0.0833
pound. What is this mass in milligrams?
 ( 1 lb = 453.6 g)

lb g mg
453.6 g 1000 mg
0.0833 lb x 1 lb x 1g =

Answer: 3.78 x 10-4 mg

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END of CHAPTER 1

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