Quiz of the Week - Chemistry 221 Dimensional Analysis and Scientific Notation

Master the concepts from this week's material by trying these quiz questions which will NOT affect your grade in any way. All scoring is anonymous and known only to you, the user! If you have any questions, please contact me. Good luck!

A Quick Review of Dimensional Analysis

Dimensional analysis, also known as the factor-label method, is a problem solving technique using units (labels) and conversion factors. Units tell us the type of measurement being made; for example, "5.2 cm" has a unit (cm) which tells us the measurement to be made is length. Conversion factors (also known as "equalities") are fractions that relate two kinds of units; for example, "6.0 cm / s" tells us that for every 1 second that passes (time), 6.0 cm are covered (length). Notice that "6.0 cm s-1" is the same as "6.0 cm / s" in unit notation.

Most problems ask a question whose answer is a number with its unit. Problems also give information that contains numbers with their units. Multiply the information by conversion factors so that all units cancel except the units needed in the answer. (A unit in the numerator may be canceled by placing the same unit in the denominator of the neighboring conversion factor. Conversely, a unit in the denominator may be canceled by placing the same unit in the numerator of the neighboring conversion factor.)

Examples:

1. How many hours are in 6 days?

equation showing 5 days equals 144 hours

2. How many seconds are in 5 hours?

equation showing 5 days equals 18000 seconds

3. How many feet per second is 5 miles per hour?

equation showing how to convert 5 miles per hour into 7.3 feet per second

A common variation occurs when more than one piece of information is provided with the problem. In these cases, start with the information that contains the same type of units as the answer. (For example, if length units are needed in the numerator of the answer, use the information that contains length units and arrange it so that those length units are in the numerator.) Next, multiply by conversion factors so that unwanted units cancel.

Test Yourself:

1. How many gallons of milk does a family drink in 5 days if they drink 4 pints per day? Answer: 2.5 gallons

2. How many minutes will it take an automobile traveling 60 miles per hour to travel a distance of 400 miles?  Answer: 400 minutes


A Quick Review of Scientific Notation

Scientific Notation is used by scientists to express very large and very small numbers in a compact fashion.

To express a number in scientific notation, we rewrite the quantity as a number (between 1 and 10) times 10 raised to a power (exponent) that tells us how we moved the decimal point.

Example:  Write 120,000 in scientific notation.

120,000 = 120,000 x 100 = 1.2 x105

Example: Write 0.0000012 in scientific notation.

0.0000012 = 0.0000012 * 100 = 1.2 x 10-6<

To express a number that is written in scientific notation as a non-exponential quantity:

Example: Write 1.23 * 106 in non-exponential form.

1.23 x 106 = 1,230,000

Example: Write 1.11 * 10-5 in non-exponential form.

1.11 x 10-5 = 0.0000111

Chemistry 221 - Dimensional Analysis and Scientific Notation

1. Convert 3.5 minutes into seconds.

2. A friend gives you 235 US dollars ($). How many US quarters does this equal?

3. Using the relationships of 128 fluid ounces = 3.7856 L and 128 fluid ounces = 4 quarts, convert 9.90 quarts into Liters (L).

4. A spacecraft has been orbiting Saturn for 3.75 days. Convert this number into seconds.

5. Gas costs $3.05 a gallon, and your car travels at 27 miles for each gallon of gas. How far can you travel in your car with $95 in your pocket?

6. Express 3100 in scientific notation.

7. Express 0.0210 in scientific notation.

8. Convert 5.1 x 10-4 to a non-exponential form.

9. Convert 2.7 x 102 to a non-exponential form.

10. I have been walking 4.22 x 105 seconds on the Pacific Crest Trail; how many hours does this represent?