Chapter 1: Matter, Energy, and Measurement Flashcards

Vocabulary flashcards covering measurement units, prefixes, volume, density, precision, accuracy, significant figures, scientific notation, and dimensional analysis from Chapter 1.

Système International d’Unités (SI units)

The international system of measurement consisting of seven base units from which all other units are derived.

Temperature

A physical quantity defined as a measure of the average kinetic energy of the particles in a sample.

Kelvin (K)

The SI base unit for temperature, converted from Celsius using the relationship K = \text{^°C} + 273.15.

Temperature Scale Comparison

A comparison showing that water freezes at $273\,\text{K}$, $0^\circ\text{C}$, and $32^\circ\text{F}$, and boils at $373\,\text{K}$, $100^\circ\text{C}$, and $212^\circ\text{F}$. Both Kelvin and Celsius scales use 100 degree-intervals between freezing and boiling points.

Liter (L)

A metric unit of volume equal to a cube measuring $1\,\text{dm}$ on each side ($1\,\text{L} = 1\,\text{dm}^3$).

Milliliter (mL)

A metric unit of volume equal to a cube measuring $1\,\text{cm}$ on each side ($1\,\text{mL} = 1\,\text{cm}^3 = 1\,\text{cc}$).

Volume Units and Metric Cubes

Visual representation showing that $1\,\text{m}^3$ contains $1\,\text{dm}^3$ (which equals $1\,\text{L}$), and $1\,\text{dm}^3$ contains $1\,\text{cm}^3$ (which equals $1\,\text{mL}$).

Volumetric Glassware Types

Laboratory equipment categorized by function: graduated cylinders, syringes, and burettes deliver variable volumes; pipettes deliver a specific volume; volumetric flasks hold a specific volume.

Graduated Cylinder

Laboratory glassware with incremental volumetric markings used to deliver variable volumes of liquid.

Burette

Volumetric laboratory instrument featuring incremental markings and a stopcock to control flow, used to deliver variable volumes.

Pipette

Laboratory instrument featuring a single volume marking, used to deliver a specific, precise volume of liquid.

Volumetric Flask

Flat-bottomed laboratory glassware with a single specific line on its neck, used to hold a specific volume of liquid.

Density

A physical property of a substance defined as its mass divided by its volume ($d = \frac{m}{V}$).

Volume by Displacement

A method of measuring the volume of an insoluble, irregularly shaped solid by determining the volume of liquid displaced when the object is submerged.

Exact Numbers

Values that are known exactly because a standard or count has been defined (e.g., exactly 12 eggs in a dozen, or exactly $1000\,\text{g}$ in $1\,\text{kg}$).

Inexact Numbers

Values obtained by measurement that inherently possess some degree of uncertainty.

Accuracy

The proximity or closeness of a measurement to the true or accepted value of a quantity.

Precision

The proximity or closeness of several measurements of the same quantity to each other.

Poor Accuracy and Poor Precision Target

A dartboard diagram demonstrating poor accuracy and poor precision, where darts are widely scattered away from each other and away from the center bullseye.

Poor Accuracy and Good Precision Target

A dartboard diagram demonstrating poor accuracy and good precision, where darts are grouped closely together but far from the center bullseye.

Good Accuracy and Good Precision Target

A dartboard diagram demonstrating good accuracy and good precision, where darts are grouped closely together directly inside the center bullseye.

Significant Figures

All the digits in a measured value that are known with certainty plus one final estimated digit.

Addition and Subtraction Sig Fig Rule

Rule stating that the calculated result must contain the same number of decimal places as the measurement with the fewest number of decimal places.

Multiplication and Division Sig Fig Rule

Rule stating that the calculated result must contain the same number of significant figures as the measurement with the fewest number of significant figures.

Scientific Notation

A system of expressing numbers using significant digits followed by a power of ten, written in the form $D.DD \times 10^n$, where the coefficient is a number between 1 and 10.

Dimensional Analysis

A problem-solving method of converting one unit to another by multiplying by conversion factors derived from equivalence statements.

Conversion Factor

A fraction whose numerator and denominator represent the same quantity in different units, used in dimensional analysis to cancel given units.

Micro- (Prefix)

A metric prefix represented by the Greek letter mu (\mu, pronounced "mew") meaning $10^{-6}$.

Giga- (Prefix)

A metric prefix abbreviated as G meaning $10^9$.

Femto- (Prefix)

A metric prefix abbreviated as f meaning $10^{-15}$.

Ladder Method

A visual conversion technique where moving the decimal point to the left converts a smaller unit to a larger unit, and moving it to the right converts a larger unit to a smaller unit.