Summary Part 2
Atoms■and■Molecules Atom is the smallest particle of an element which can take part in a
chemical reaction. It may or may not be capable of independen t existence. Molecule is the
simplest particle of matter that has independent existence. It may be homoatomic, e.g. H , Cl ,
N2 2 2 (diatomic), O3(triatomic) or heteroatomic, e.g. HCl, NH3,CH4etc.
Physical■Quantities■and■Their■Measurements Physical quantity is a physical property of a
material that can be quantified by measurement and their measurement does not in volve any
chemical reaction. To express the measurement of any physical quantity, two thi ngs are
considered: (i) Its■unit, (ii) The■numerical■value. Magnitude of a physical quantity =numerical
value ×unit Unit It is defined as ‘‘some fixed standard against which the comp arison of a
physical quantity can be done during measurement.’’ Units■are■of■two■types: (i)■Basic■units
(ii)■Derived■units (i) The basic or fundamental units are length (m), mass■(kg), time■(s),
electric current (A), thermodynamic temperature (K),
amount■of■substance■(mol)■and■luminous■intensity■(Cd). (ii) Derived units are basically derived
from the fundamental units, e.g.■unit■of■density■is■derived■from■units■of■mass■and■volume.4
Handbook■of Chemistry Different systems used for describing measurements of vari ous physical
quantities are: (a)CGS system It is based on centimetre, gram and second as the
units■of■length,■mass■and■time■respectively. (b)FPS system A British system which used foot
(ft), pound (lb) and second (s) as the fundamental units of length, mass and time respectively.
(c)MKS system It is the system which uses metre (m), kilogram (kg) and second (s) respectively
for length, mass and time; ampere■(A)■was■added■later■on■for■electric■current. (d)SI system
(1960) International system of units or SI units
contains■following■seven■basic■and■two■supplementary■units: Basic Physical Quantities and Their
Corresponding SI Units Physical quantity Name of SI unit Symbol for SI unit Length ( )l metre m
Mass ( )m kilogram kg Time ( )t second s Electric current ( )I ampere A Thermodynamic
temperature ( )T kelvin K Amount of substance ( )n mole mol Luminous intensity ( )Iv candela Cd
Supplementary units It includes plane angle in radian and solid angle in steradian. Prefixes
The SI units of some physical quantities are either too small or too large. To change the order
of magnitude, these are expressed by using prefixes before the name of base units. The various
pre fixes are listed as:Basic■Concepts■of■Chemistry 5 Some■Physical■Quantities (i)Mass It is
the amount of matter present in a substance. It remains constant for a substance at all the
places. Its unit is kg but■in■laboratories■usually■gram■is■used. (ii)Weight It is the force
exerted by gravity on an object. It varies from place to place due to change in gravity. Its
unit is Newton (N) (iii)Temperature There are three common scale to measure temperature °C
(degree celsius), °F (degree fahrenheit) and K (kelvin). K is the SI unit. The temperature on
two scales (°C and °F)■are■related■to■each■other■by■the■following■relationship: °F= ° +9 532 (
) C The■kelvin■scale■is■related■to celsius scale■as■follows: K= ° +C 273 15 . (iv)Volume The
space occupied by matter (usually by liquid or a gas)■is■called■its■volume.■Its■unit■is■m3.
(v)Density It is defined as the amount or mass per unit volume and■has■units■kg■m−3or■g■cm−3.
Scientific■Notation In such notation, all measurements (how so ever large or smal l) are
expressed as a number between 1.000 and 9.999 multiplied or d ivided by 10. In general it can
be given as = ×Nn106 Handbook■of Chemistry Multiple Prefix Symbol 1024yotta Y 1021zeta Z
1018exa E 1015peta P 1012tera T 109giga G 106mega M 103kilo K 102hecto h 10 deca daMultiple
Prefix Symbol 101 –deci d 102 –centi c 103 –milli m
