Chapter 1

Chemical Foundations

1.6 Dimensional Analysis

Copyright 2005 by Pearson Education, Inc. Publishing as Benjamin Cummings

Equalities
Equalities use two different units to describe the same measured amount. are written for relationships between units of the metric system, U.S. units, or between metric and U.S. units. For example, 1m = 1 lb = 2.205 lb = 1000 mm 16 oz 1 kg
2

Exact and Measured Numbers in Equalities

Equalities between units of

the same system are definitions and use exact

numbers.

different systems (metric and U.S.) use measured

numbers and count as significant figures.

Some Common Equalities

Equalities on Food Labels

The contents of packaged foods in the U.S. are listed as both metric and U.S. units.

indicate the same amount of a substance in

two different units.

Copyright 2005 by Pearson Education, Inc. Publishing as Benjamin Cummings

Conversion Factors
A conversion factor is a fraction obtained from an equality. Equality: 1 in. = 2.54 cm

is written as a ratio with a numerator and denominator. can be inverted to give two conversion factors for
every equality. 1 in. and 2.54 cm 2.54 cm 1 in.

Learning Check
Write conversion factors for each pair of units. A. liters and mL B. hours and minutes C. meters and kilometers

Solution
Write conversion factors for each pair of units. A. liters and mL 1L and 1000 mL B. hours and minutes 1 hr 60 min and 60 min 1 hr Equality: 1 km = 1000 m 1000 mL 1L Equality: 1 hr = 60 min Equality: 1 L = 1000 mL

C. meters and kilometers 1 km 1000 m and 1000 m 1 km

Conversion Factors in a Problem

A conversion factor may be obtained from information in a word problem. is written for that problem only. Example 1: The price of one pound (1 lb) of red peppers is $2.39. 1 lb red peppers and $2.39 $2.39 1 lb red peppers Example 2: The cost of one gallon (1 gal) of gas is $2.34. 1 gallon of gas and $2.34 $2.34 1 gallon of gas
9

Percent as a Conversion Factor

A percent factor gives the ratio of the parts to the whole. % = Parts x 100 Whole uses the same unit to express the percent. uses the value 100 and a unit for the whole. can be written as two factors. Example: A food contains 30% (by mass) fat. 30 g fat 100 g food and 100 g food 30 g fat
10

Percent Factor in a Problem

The thickness of the skin fold at the waist indicates 11% body fat. What percent factors can be written for body fat in kg? Percent factors using kg: 11 kg fat and 100 kg mass 100 kg mass 11 kg fat
Copyright 2005 by Pearson Education, Inc. Publishing as Benjamin Cummings

11

Learning Check
Write the equality and conversion factors for each of the following. A. square meters and square centimeters B. jewelry that contains 18% gold C. One gallon of gas is $2.27

12

Solution
A. square meters and square centimeters (1m)2 and (100 cm)2 (100 cm)2 (1m)2 B. jewelry that contains 18% gold 18 g gold and 100 g jewelry 100 g jewelry 18 g gold C. One gallon of gas is $2.27 1 gal and $2.27 $2.27 1 gal
13

Given and Needed Units

To solve a problem Identify the given unit Identify the needed unit. Example: A person has a height of 2.0 meters. What is that height in inches? The given unit is the initial unit of height. given unit = meters (m) The needed unit is the unit for the answer. needed unit = inches (in.)
14

Learning Check
An injured person loses 0.30 pints of blood. How many milliliters of blood would that be?

Identify the given and needed units given in this problem. Given unit = _______

Needed unit = _______

15

Solution
An injured person loses 0.30 pints of blood. How many milliliters of blood would that be?

Identify the given and needed units given in this problem. Given unit = pints milliliters

Needed unit =

16

Problem Setup
Write the given and needed units. Write a unit plan to convert the given unit to the needed
unit. Write equalities and conversion factors that connect the units. Use conversion factors to cancel the given unit and provide the needed unit. Unit 1 Given unit x x Unit 2 = Unit 2 Unit 1 Conversion = Needed factor unit
17

Guide to Problem Solving (GPS)

The steps in the Guide to Problem Solving are useful in setting up a problem with conversion factors.

18

Setting up a Problem
How many minutes are 2.5 hours? Given unit = 2.5 hr Needed unit = min Unit Plan = hr min Setup problem to cancel hours (hr). Given Conversion Needed unit factor unit 2.5 hr x 60 min = 150 min (2 SF) 1 hr

Copyright 2005 by Pearson Education, Inc. Publishing as Benjamin Cummings

19

Learning Check
A rattlesnake is 2.44 m long. How many centimeters long is the snake? 1) 2440 cm 2) 244 cm 3) 24.4 cm

20

Solution
A rattlesnake is 2.44 m long. How many centimeters long is the snake? 2) 244 cm

Given Conversion Needed unit factor unit 2.44 m x 100 cm = 244 cm 1m

21

Using Two or More Factors

Often, two or more conversion factors are required
to obtain the unit needed for the answer. Unit 1 Unit 2 Unit 3

Additional conversion factors are placed in the

setup to cancel each preceding unit Given unit x factor 1 Unit 1 x Unit 2 Unit 1 x factor 2 x Unit 3 Unit 2 = needed unit = Unit 3

22

Example: Problem Solving

How many minutes are in 1.4 days? Given unit: 1.4 days
Factor 1 Factor 2

Plan:

days

hr

min = 2.0 x 103 min

= 2 SF

Set up problem: 1.4 days x 24 hr x 60 min 1 day 1 hr

2 SF Exact Exact

23

Check the Unit Cancellation

Be sure to check your unit cancellation in the setup. The units in the conversion factors must cancel to
give the correct unit for the answer. What is wrong with the following setup? 1.4 day Units = x 1 day 24 hr x 1 hr 60 min

day2/min is not the unit needed Units dont cancel properly.

24

Using the GPS

What is 165 lb in kg? STEP 1 Given 165 lb Need kg STEP 2 Plan STEP 3 Equalities/Factors 1 kg = 2.20 lb 2.20 lb and 1 kg 1 kg 2.20 lb STEP 4 Set Up Problem 165 lb x 1 kg = 75.0 kg 2.20 lb

25

Learning Check
A bucket contains 4.65 L of water. How many gallons of water is that? Unit plan: L qt gallon

Equalities: 1.06 qt = 1 L 1 gal = 4 qt Set up Problem:

26

Solution
Given: 4.65 L Plan: L Needed: gallons qt gallon

Equalities: 1.06 qt = 1 L; 1 gal = 4 qt Set Up Problem: 4.65 L x x 1.06 qt 1L 3 SF 3 SF x 1 gal 4 qt exact = 1.23 gal 3 SF

27

Learning Check
If a ski pole is 3.0 feet in length, how long is the ski pole in mm?

28

Solution

3.0 ft x 12 in x 2.54 cm x 10 mm = 1 ft 1 in. 1 cm Calculator answer: 914.4 mm Needed answer: 910 mm (2 SF rounded) Check factor setup: Check needed unit: Units cancel properly mm

29

Learning Check
If your pace on a treadmill is 65 meters per minute, how many minutes will it take for you to walk a distance of 7500 feet?

30

Solution
Given: 7500 ft 65 m/min Need: min Plan: ft in. cm m min Equalities: 1 ft = 12 in. 1 in. = 2.54 cm 1 m = 100 cm 1 min = 65 m (walking pace) Set Up Problem: 7500 ft x 12 in. x 1 ft 2.54 cm 1 in. x 1m x 1 min 100 cm 65 m

= 35 min final answer (2 SF)

31

Percent Factor in a Problem

If the thickness of the skin fold at the waist indicates an 11% body fat, how much fat is in a person with a mass of 86 kg?
percent factor

86 kg mass x

11 kg fat 100 kg mass

= 9.5 kg fat
Copyright 2005 by Pearson Education, Inc. Publishing as Benjamin Cummings

32

Learning Check

How many lb of sugar are in 120 g of candy if the candy is 25% (by mass) sugar?

33

Solution

How many lb of sugar are in 120 g of candy if the candy is 25%(by mass) sugar?
percent factor

120 g candy x 1 lb candy 454 g candy

x 25 lb sugar 100 lb candy = 0.066 lb sugar

Ref: Timberlake, Chemistry, Pearson/Benjamin Cummings, 2006, 9th Ed.

34