Conversion Factors in Calculations

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ConversionFactors in Calculations
Pre-lab Study Questions
1. What are the rules for rounding off numbers?
If the first number to be dropped is less than 5, drop it and all following numbers. If the first
number to be dropped is 5 or greater, drop the numbers and increase the last retained digit by
one.

2. How do you determine the number of significant figures in an answer obtained by multiplying or
dividing?
Answers for multiplication/division keep the same number of significant figures as the
measured number with the fewest significant figures.

3. How is the number of digits determined when an answer is obtained by adding or subtracting?
For addition/subtraction, an answer has the same number of decimal places as the measured
number with the fewest decimal places.

4. Is a body temperature of 39.4°C a normal temperature or does it indicate a fever?

The temperature 39.4 indicates a fever. Normal body temperature is 39.0°C. Converting
39.4°C to Fahrenheit gives
1.8 (39.4°C ) + 32 = 102.9°C

5. What is an equality and how is it used to write a conversion factor?

An equality is the same measurement expressed in two different units. A conversion factor is
written by placing one of the units in the numerator and the other in the denominator. The
two are reversed for a second factor for the equality.

A. Rounding Off
A.1 Rounding A student rounded off the following calculator display to three significant figures.
Indicate if the rounded number is correct. If incorrect, round off the display value properly.

Calculator Student’s Correct (yes/no) Corrected (if needed)

Display Rounded Value

24.4704 24.5 Yes

143.63212 144 Yes
532, 800 530 No 533, 000
0.00858345 0.009 No 0.00858
8 8.00 Yes

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Laboratory 2

Report Sheet - Lab 2

A.2 Area

Your measurements Another student’s measurements

Length = 13.29 cm 13.25 cm
Width = 4.32 cm 4.35 cm (3 sig figs)
2 2
Area = 57.4 cm 57.6 cm
(Show calculations)
13.29 cm X 4.32 cm = 57.4 cm2 13.25 cm X 4.35 cm = 57.6 cm2 (3 sig figs)

Why could two students obtain difference values for the calculated areas of the same rectangle?
The estimated digit in each measurement will give some variation in the last digit of the
calculated area.

A.3 Volume of A Solid by Direct Measurement

Shape of solid rectangular solid

Formula for volume of solid LX WX H=V

height 2.85 cm length 4.82 cm

width 2.85 cm diameter (if cylinder) _____________

Volume of the solid 39.2 cm3

(Show calculations of volume including the units)

4.82 cm X 2.85 cm X 2.85 cm = 39.2 cm3 (3 sig figs)

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 Conversion Factors in Calculations

Report Sheet - Lab 2

B. Significant Figures In Calculations

B.1 Perform the following multiplication and division calculations. Give a final answer with the
correct number of significant figures:

4.5 ✕ 0.28 1.3

0.1184 ✕ 8.00 ✕ 0.0345 0.0300

(42.4)(15.6) 5.23
1.265

(35.56)(1.45) 19
(4.8)(0.56)

B.2 Perform the following addition and subtraction calculations. Give a final answer with the correct
number of significant figures.

13.45 mL + 0.4552 mL 13.91 mL (2 decimal places)

145.5 m + 86.58 m + 1045 m 1277 m

1315 + 200 + 1100 2600 (last sig fig in hundreds place)

245.625 g - 80.2 g 165.4 g

4.62 cm - 0.885 cm _ 4.53

Questions and Problems

Q.1 What is the total mass in grams of objects that have masses of 0.2000 kg, 80.0 g, and 524
mg?

0.2000 kg X 1000 g/1 kg = 200.0 g

524 X 1 g/1000 mg = 0.524 g

Add 200.0 g + 80.0 g + 0.524 g = 280.5 g (one decimal place)

Q.2 A beaker has a mass of 225.08 g. When a liquid is added to the beaker, the combined mass is
238.254 g. What is the mass in grams of the liquid?

238.254 g – 225.08 g = 13.17 g (two decimal places)

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Laboratory 2

Report Sheet - Lab 2

C. Conversion Factors for Length

C.1 Metric Factors

Equality 1m = 1000 mm

Conversion factors
1m and 1000 mm
1000 mm 1m

Equality 1 cm = 10 mm
Conversion factors
1 cm and 10 mm
10 mm 1 cm

C.2 Metric-U.S. Factors

Line length (measured) 5 and 3/16 in. = 5 .19 in

13.2 cm

13.2 cm = cm
2.54
(Experimental ratio)
5.19
in. 1 in.

How close is your experimental ratio to the standard conversion factor of 2.54 cm/in.?

It matches the standard value of 2.54 cm/in

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 Conversion Factors in Calculations

Report Sheet - Lab 2

C.3 Your metric height

Height (inches) 68.0 in.

Height in centimeters (calculated)
68.0 in. ✕ 2.54 cm = 173 cm
1 in.
What is your height in meters? 1.73 m
Show your calculations here

173 cm X 1 m/100 cm = 1.73 m

Questions and Problems (Show complete set ups)

Q.3 A pencil is 16.2 cm long. What is its length in millimeters (mm)?

16.2 cm X 10 mm/1 cm = 162 mm

Q.4 A roll of tape measures 45.5 inches. What is the length of the tape in meters?

45.5 in. X 2.54 cm/1 in. X 1 m/100 cm = 1.16 m

D. Conversion Factors for Volume

D.1 Equality 1L = 1000 mL

Conversion factors 1000 mL and 1L

1L . 1000 mL

D.2 Volume (mL) of 1 quart of water 946 mL

Number of milliliters in 1 quart 946 mL/qt (experimental)

Equality 1 qt = 946 mL

Conversion factors 1 qt and 946 mL

946 mL 1 qt

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Laboratory 2

Report Sheet - Lab 2

Questions and Problems (Show complete set ups)

Q.5 A patient received 825 mL of fluid in one day. What is that volume in liters?

825 mL X 1 L/1000 mL = 0.825 L

Q.6 How many liters of plasma are present in 8.5 pints? (1 qt = 2 pt)

8.5 pt X 1 qt/2 pt X 946 mL/1 qt X 1 L/1000 mL = 4.0 L

E. Conversion Factors for Mass

E.1 Grams and Pounds
Name of Commercial Product Stoned Wheat Thins
Mass stated on label 340 g
Weight given on label 12 oz
Weight in lb 12 oz X l lb/16 oz = 0.75 lb
(convert oz to lb if needed):
340 g
Number of grams = = 453 g or 450 (to 2 sig figs)
Number of lb. 0.75 lb 1 lb 1 lb

How does your experimental factor compare to the standard value of 454 g/lb?
Very close

E.2 Pounds and Kilograms

Mass in kilograms (from label) 0.34 kg

Weight in lb: 0.75 lb

0.75 lb
Number of lb = = 2.2 lb
Number of kg 0.34 kg 1 kg

How does your experimental factor compare to the standard value of 2.20 lb/kg?
Same value to first two sig figs.

Q.7 An infant has a mass of 3.40 kg. What is the weight of the infant in pounds?
3.40 kg X 2.20 lb/kg = 7.48 lb

or 3.40 kg X 1000 g/1 kg X 1 lb/454 g = 7.49 lb

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 Conversion Factors in Calculations

F. Percent by Mass
F.1 Mass of the beaker (0 if tared) 0.00 g

F.2 Mass of the sugar + the beaker 4.75 g

F.3 Mass of the sugar-water mixture + beaker 23.76 g

F.4 Calculations:

What is the mass of sugar? 4.75 g

What is the mass of the sugar-water mixture? 23.76 g

What is the mass of the water added? 19.01 g

What is the % sugar (by mass)? 20.5% sugar

(Show calculations)
4.75 g sugar/23.76 g(sugar + water) ✕ 100% = 20.0% sugar
What is the % water (by mass)? 80.0% water
(Show calculations)
19.01 g/23.76 g (sugar + water) ✕ 100% = 80.0 %

Questions and Problems (Show complete setup)

Q.9 A sugar-water mixture contains 45.8 g of sugar and 108.5 g of water. What is the percent by mass of
sugar and the percent by mass of water in the solution?

Total mass = 45.8 g + 108.5 g = 154.3 g of solution

% sugar = 45.8 g/154.3g ✕ 100 = 29.7 % sugar

%water = 108.5 g /154.3 g ✕ 100 = 70.3% water

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Laboratory 2

G. Converting Temperature
G.1 Temperature scale (s) on the thermometer Celsius
Lowest temperature -20°C Highest temperature 110°C

G.2 °C (G.3) °F K
a. Room temperature 27.0 80.6 300.

1.8(27.0) + 32 = 80.6°F 27.0 + 273 = 300. K

b. Tap water 22.0 71.6 295

1.8(22.0) + 32 = 72.0°F 22.0 + 273 = 295 K

c. Ice-water mixture -1.0 30.2 272

1.8(-1.0)+ 32 = 30.2 °F -1.0 + 273 = 272 K

d. Salt ice-water mixture -8.0 17.6 265

1.8(-8.0) + 32 = 17.6°F -8.0 + 273 = 265 K

Questions and Problems

Q.9 Write an equation for each of the following temperature conversions:
a. °C to °F °F = 1.8 (T°C) + 32
b. °F to °C °C = T°F = 32
1.8
c. °C to K K = T°C + 273
Q.10 A recipe calls for a baking temperature of 205°C. What temperature in °F should be set on the
oven?

1.8 ( 205) + 32 = 369 – 32 = 401°F

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