Chemistry 100: Measurements and Significant Figures - Vocabulary Flashcards

Vocabulary flashcards covering key terms from the lecture notes on measurements and significant figures.

Measurement

The process of determining the size, amount, or extent of something (mass, volume, length, etc.).

Dimension

A measurable extent of something (such as length, mass, or volume) used to describe a quantity.

English system

Traditional units used in daily life in the United States (inches, feet, ounces, pounds, quarts, gallons).

Metric system

System of measurement used in science with base units such as meter, gram, and liter.

Base unit

The fundamental unit of a quantity in a measurement system (e.g., meter for length, gram for mass, liter for volume).

Meter

Base unit of length in the metric system; 1 m ≈ 1.09 yards.

Gram

Base unit of mass in the metric system.

Liter

Base unit of volume in the metric system.

Kilometer

1000 meters (prefix kilo = 10^3).

Millimeter

One-thousandth of a meter (10^-3 m).

Kilogram

1000 grams (prefix kilo = 10^3).

Milligram

One-thousandth of a gram (10^-3 g).

Kiloliter

1000 liters.

Milliliter

One-thousandth of a liter (10^-3 L).

Cubic centimeter (cm^3)

A volume unit equal to 1 mL; the volume of a cube 1 cm on each side.

Cubic centimeter (cc)

Abbreviation for cm^3; equivalent to 1 mL.

Milliliter (mL)

Volume unit equal to 1 cm^3; commonly used in labs.

1 cm^3 = 1 mL = 1 cc

Equivalent volumes: 1 cm^3 = 1 mL = 1 cc.

Giga

Prefix for 10^9 (one billion).

Mega

Prefix for 10^6 (one million).

Kilo

Prefix for 10^3 (one thousand).

Deci

Prefix for 10^-1 (one-tenth).

Centi

Prefix for 10^-2 (one-hundredth).

Milli

Prefix for 10^-3 (one-thousandth).

Micro

Prefix for 10^-6 (one-millionth).

Nano

Prefix for 10^-9 (one-billionth).

Pico

Prefix for 10^-12 (one-trillionth).

Significant figures

Digits known with certainty plus one uncertain digit; used to express precision.

Exact number

A number with no uncertainty in its value.

Uncertainty

Doubt about a measured value due to limitations of the measurement.

Accuracy

How close a measurement is to the true value.

Precision

How close repeated measurements are to each other.

Measurement error

Error arising from equipment, procedures, or human mistakes.

Graduated cylinder

Laboratory instrument used to measure liquid volume; precision depends on the instrument.

Scientific notation

Expressing numbers as a × 10^n with 1 ≤ a < 10.

Coefficient

The value in front of the ×10^n in scientific notation; reflects the significant figures.

Exponent

The power of 10 in scientific notation.

Least precise

In multiplication/division, the result cannot be more precise than the input with the fewest significant figures.

Decimal places

Digits to the right of the decimal point.

Addition/subtraction rule

The answer should have the same number of decimal places as the term with the fewest decimal places.

Multiplication/division rule

The answer should have as many significant figures as the input with the fewest sig figs.

Rounding

Process of reducing digits; depends on the first digit to be deleted.

1 L = 1.06 quarts

Conversion between liters and quarts.

1 m = 1.09 yards

Conversion between meters and yards.

First estimated digit

The first digit in a measurement that is not known exactly; the uncertain digit.