Lawrence Brown, Tom Holme
Chemistry for
Engineering Students
Fourth Edition
Chapter 1.2
Problem Solving
Unit 1 – Matter, Mass, and Physical
Properties
Chapter 1 – Numbers and Measurement in Chemistry
SI Units and Prefixes
Mass, Volume, and Density
Uncertainty in Measurement
Chapter 2 – Atoms and Molecules
Elements and Atoms
Ions and Ionic Compounds
Naming Chemical Compounds
Chapter 3 – Molecules, Moles and Chemical Equations
Aqueous Solutions and Net Ionic Equations
Moles and Molar Masses
Empirical Formulas
Solution Concentration (Molarity)
Unit 1 – Matter, Mass, and Physical
Properties
Chapter 4 – Stoichiometry
Stoichiometry
Limiting Reactants
Percent Yield Problems
Solution stoichiometry and titration is not covered.
Chapter 1 – Chemistry: The Central
Science
Chapter 1.5 – Uncertainty in Measurement
Distinguishing Between Accuracy and Precision
Significant Figures in Measurement and Calculation
Rounding Numbers
Solving Word Problems Using Dimensional Analysis
Accuracy and Precision
Accuracy: How close to the true value a given
measurement is.
Calculate accuracy: subtract answer from true value
Precision: How well a number of independent
measurements agree with each other.
Calculate precision: subtract high measurement from low
measurement
Accuracy and Precision
Accuracy: Compare result to reported value
Accuracy (Group 1) = 11.3 – 11.3 = 0 (very accurate)
Precision: Subtract low from high measurement and compare
to other groups results.
Precision (Group 1) = 11.5 – 11.1 = 0.4 (not so good)
Precision and Accuracy: Why it
Matters
Problem 1
The distance between Bryan and Bastrop has been reported
three ways. Two are acceptable and one is wrong. Which
distance is incorrect?
A. 100 miles
B. 74 miles
C. 74.158739 miles
Significant Figures in Measurement
• The length of the pin is 2.85 cm.
Certain digits: 2.85 cm
Uncertain digit: 2.85 cm
The certain digits and
one uncertain digit are
all significant.
Significant Figures in Measurement
• The temperature is 32.3 oC.
Certain digits: 32.3 oC
Uncertain digit: 32.3 oC
Significant Figures in Measurement
• The mass is 58.7298 g.
The analytical balance is not
“guestimating”.
All digits are certain!!!
Solving Problems Involving
Density
Problem 2
Taking significant figures into account,
what is the correct reading for the volume
of water in the graduated cylinder?
A. 25.7
B. 25.75 mL
C. 28.5 mL
D. 28.50 mL
E. 29.5 mL
Solving Problems Involving
Density
Problem 3
Taking significant figures into account,
what is the correct reading for the length of
the grey object?
A. 78.3 cm
B. 78.33 cm
C. 78.5 cm
D. 78.330 cm
Significant Figures in a
Calculation
When do I have to round off?
If the answer has more significant figures than
the measurement(s).
1.5 ml / 1.5893 g/mL = 0.0919117647 g
2 sig figs 5 sig figs 9 sig figs – too many!
Significant Figures in a
Calculation
1. For multiplication or division, the number of significant
figures in the result is the same as that in the
measurement with the smallest number of significant
figures.
1.342 × 5.5 = 7.381 7.4
2. For addition or subtraction, the limiting term is the one
with the smallest number of digits past the decimal.
Counting Significant Figures
1. Nonzero integers always count as significant figures.
3456 has 4 sig figs (significant figures).
2. Leading zeros never count as significant figures.
0.048 has 2 sig figs.
3. Captive zeros always count as significant figures.
16.07 has 4 sig figs.
Counting Significant Figures
4. Trailing zeros are significant if the number contains a
decimal point.
9.300 has 4 sig figs.
150 has 2 sig figs.
5. Exact numbers do not limit the number of significant
figures in a calculation.
1 inch = 2.54 cm, exactly.
7 days in a week
9 pencils (obtained by counting).
Counting Significant Figures
Problem 4
Find the number of significant digits in these measurements.
a) 4.803 cm
b) 0.006 61 g
c) 55.220 K
d) 34,200 m
Counting Significant Figures
Problem 5
A pack of pencils weighs 19.1 g. There are 9 pencils in the
pack. What is the average weight of the pencils, reported to
the correct number of significant figures?
a) 2.122 g
b) 2.12 g
c) 2.1 g
d) 2 g
Rounding Numbers
Problem 6
Decide how many significant digits each answer should have
and what answer should the student report?
a) 278 mi b) 40
11.70 gal 5050
+ 129
= 23.760 684 mi/gal
5219
Rounding Numbers
1. If the digit to be removed is less than 5, the preceding
digit stays the same.
5.64 rounds to 5.6
2. If the digit to be removed is greater than 5, the
preceding digit is increased by 1.
5.68 rounds to 5.7
3. If the digit to be removed is 5 with nothing following,
round up or round down so that the answer is an even
number.
5.65 rounds to 5.6 (5.6 is an even number)
Rounding Numbers
3. Use all figures in calculations and then round off the
final answer. Don’t round off at an intermediate step.
2.54 cm
(182.2 – 179.219) =
inch
2.54 cm
(2.981) =
inch
7.57174 cm
=
inch Subtraction was done in
first step so answer may
7.6 cm
= only have one digit past
inch the decimal point.
Rounding Numbers
Problem 7
Round 5.664 525 to the indicated number of digits.
a) Four
b) Six
Applying Dimensional Analysis
Problem 8
An iron sample has a mass of 4.50 lb. What is the mass of this
sample in grams? 1 kg = 2.2046 lbs; 1 kg = 1000 g
* * *
= *
* *
Use the dimensional analysis diagram (above.) Complete
the boxes using the same procedure shown in the example
on in the lesson Chapter 1.1.
Applying Dimensional Analysis
Problem 9
Pencil lead is made up of essentially pure carbon. How many
carbon atoms are in a pencil point weighing 15 mg?
1 amu = 1.6605 x 10-24 g
mass of 1 carbon atom = 12.011 amu
Solving Problems Involving
Density
Problem 10
Copper has a density of 8.96 g/cm3. If 75.0 g of copper is
added to 50.0 mL of water in a graduated cylinder, to what
volume reading will the water level in the cylinder rise?
