Sample Exercise 1.

1 Distinguishing among Elements, Compounds,

and Mixtures
“White gold” contains gold and a “white” metal, such as palladium. Two samples of white gold differ in the
relative amounts of gold and palladium they contain. Both samples are uniform in composition throughout. Use
Figure 1.9 to classify white gold.

Solution
Because the material is uniform throughout, it is
homogeneous. Because its composition differs for
the two samples, it cannot be a compound.
Instead, it must be a homogeneous mixture.

Practice Exercise
Aspirin is composed of 60.0% carbon, 4.5%
hydrogen, and 35.5% oxygen by mass,
regardless of its source. Use Figure 1.9 to
classify aspirin.

Answer: It is a compound because it has

constant composition and can be separated into
several elements.

Chemistry, The Central Science, 12th Edition © 2012 Pearson Education, Inc.
Theodore L. Brown; H. Eugene LeMay, Jr.; Bruce E. Bursten; Catherine J. Murphy; and Patrick Woodward
 Sample Exercise 1.2 Using SI Prefixes
What is the name of the unit that equals (a) 10–9 gram, (b) 10–6 second, (c) 10–3 meter?

Solution
We can find the prefix related to each power of ten in
Table 1.5: (a) nanogram, ng, (b) microsecond, μs,
(c) millimeter, mm.

Practice Exercise
(a) How many picometers are there in one meter?
(b) Express 6.0 × 103 m using a prefix to replace the
power of ten. (c) Use exponential notation to
express 4.22 mg in grams. (d) Use decimal notation
to express 4.22 mg in grams.

Answers: (a) 1012 pm, (b) 6.0 km, (c) 4.22 × 10–3 g,
(d) 0.00422 g

Chemistry, The Central Science, 12th Edition © 2012 Pearson Education, Inc.
Theodore L. Brown; H. Eugene LeMay, Jr.; Bruce E. Bursten; Catherine J. Murphy; and Patrick Woodward
 Sample Exercise 1.3 Converting Units of Temperature
A weather forecaster predicts the temperature will reach 31 °C. What is this temperature (a) in K, (b) in °F?

Solution
(a) Using Equation 1.1, we have K = 31 + 273 = 304 K.

(b) Using Equation 1.2, we have

Practice Exercise
Ethylene glycol, the major ingredient in antifreeze, freezes at -11.5 °C. What is the freezing point in (a) K,
(b) °F?

Answers: (a) 261.7 K, (b) 11.3 °F

Chemistry, The Central Science, 12th Edition © 2012 Pearson Education, Inc.
Theodore L. Brown; H. Eugene LeMay, Jr.; Bruce E. Bursten; Catherine J. Murphy; and Patrick Woodward
 Sample Exercise 1.4 Determining Density and Using Density to
Determine Volume or Mass
(a) Calculate the density of mercury if 1.00 × 102 g occupies a volume of 7.36 cm3.
(b) Calculate the volume of 65.0 g of liquid methanol (wood alcohol) if its density is 0.791 g/mL.
(c) What is the mass in grams of a cube of gold (density = 19.32 g/cm 3) if the length of the cube is 2.00 cm?

Solution
(a) We are given mass and volume, so Equation
1.3 yields

(b) Solving Equation 1.3 for volume and then

using the given mass and density gives

(c) We can calculateVolume

the mass=from
(2.00the
cm) = (2.00)
volume
3
of 3 cm3 = 8.00 cm3
the cube and its density. The volume of a
cube is given by its length cubed:

Solving EquationMass
1.3 for mass and
= volume × density = (8.00 cm3)(19.32 g/cm3) = 155 g
substituting the volume and density of the
cube, we have

Chemistry, The Central Science, 12th Edition © 2012 Pearson Education, Inc.
Theodore L. Brown; H. Eugene LeMay, Jr.; Bruce E. Bursten; Catherine J. Murphy; and Patrick Woodward
 Sample Exercise 1.4 Determining Density and Using Density to
Determine Volume or Mass
Continued

Practice Exercise
(a) Calculate the density of a 374.5-g sample of copper if it has a volume of 41.8 cm 3. (b) A student needs
15.0 g of ethanol for an experiment. If the density of ethanol is 0.789 g/mL, how many milliliters of ethanol
are needed? (c) What is the mass, in grams, of 25.0 mL of mercury (density = 13.6 g/mL)?

Answers: (a) 8.96 g/cm3, (b) 19.0 mL, (c) 340 g

Chemistry, The Central Science, 12th Edition © 2012 Pearson Education, Inc.
Theodore L. Brown; H. Eugene LeMay, Jr.; Bruce E. Bursten; Catherine J. Murphy; and Patrick Woodward
 Sample Exercise 1.5 Relating Significant Figures to the Uncertainty
of a Measurement
What difference exists between the measured values 4.0 g and 4.00 g?
Solution
The value 4.0 has two significant figures, whereas 4.00 has three. This difference implies that the 4.0 has
more uncertainty. A mass reported as 4.0 g indicates that the uncertainty is in the first decimal place. Thus,
the mass might be anything between 3.9 and 4.1 g, which we can represent as 4.0 ± 0.1 g. A mass reported
as 4.00 g indicates that the uncertainty is in the second decimal place. Thus, the mass might be anything
between 3.99 and 4.01 g, which we can represent as 4.00 ± 0.01 g. (Without further information, we cannot
be sure whether the difference in uncertainties of the two measurements reflects the precision or the
accuracy of the measurement.)

Practice Exercise
A sample that has a mass of about 25 g is placed on a balance that has a precision of ± 0.001 g. How many
significant figures should be reported for this measurement?

Answer: five, as in the measurement 24.995 g, the uncertainty being in the third decimal place

Chemistry, The Central Science, 12th Edition © 2012 Pearson Education, Inc.
Theodore L. Brown; H. Eugene LeMay, Jr.; Bruce E. Bursten; Catherine J. Murphy; and Patrick Woodward
 Sample Exercise 1.6 Determining the Number of Significant Figures
in a Measurement
How many significant figures are in each of the following numbers (assume that each number is a measured
quantity): (a) 4.003, (b) 6.023 × 1023, (c) 5000?

Solution
(a) Four; the zeros are significant figures. (b) Four; the exponential term does not add to the number of
significant figures. (c) One; we assume that the zeros are not significant when there is no decimal point
shown. If the number has more significant figures, a decimal point should be employed or the number
written in exponential notation. Thus, 5000. has four significant figures, whereas 5.00×103 has three.
Practice Exercise
How many significant figures are in each of the following measurements: (a) 3.549 g, (b) 2.3 × 104 cm,
(c) 0.00134 m3?

Answers: (a) four, (b) two, (c) three

Chemistry, The Central Science, 12th Edition © 2012 Pearson Education, Inc.
Theodore L. Brown; H. Eugene LeMay, Jr.; Bruce E. Bursten; Catherine J. Murphy; and Patrick Woodward
 Sample Exercise 1.7 Determining the Number of Significant Figures
in a Calculated Quantity
The width, length, and height of a small box are 15.5 cm, 27.3 cm, and 5.4 cm, respectively. Calculate the volume
of the box, using the correct number of significant figures in your answer.
Solution
In reporting the volume, we can show only as many significant figures as given in the dimension with the
fewest significant figures, that for the height (two significant figures):

A calculator used for this calculation shows 2285.01, which we must round off to two significant figures.
Because the resulting number is 2300, it is best reported in exponential notation, 2.3 × 103, to clearly
indicate two significant figures.

Practice Exercise
It takes 10.5 s for a sprinter to run 100.00 m. Calculate her average speed in meters per second, and express
the result to the correct number of significant figures.

Answer: 9.52 m/s (three significant figures)

Chemistry, The Central Science, 12th Edition © 2012 Pearson Education, Inc.
Theodore L. Brown; H. Eugene LeMay, Jr.; Bruce E. Bursten; Catherine J. Murphy; and Patrick Woodward
 Sample Exercise 1.8 Determining the Number of Significant Figures
in a Calculated Quantity
A gas at 25 °C fills a container whose volume is 1.05 × 103 cm3. The container plus gas has a mass of 837.6 g. The
container, when emptied of all gas, has a mass of 836.2 g. What is the density of the gas at 25 °C?

Solution
To calculate the density, we must know both the mass and the volume of the gas. The mass of the gas is just
the difference in the masses of the full and empty container:
(837.6 – 836.2) g = 1.4 g
In subtracting numbers, we determine the number of significant figures in our result by counting decimal
places in each quantity. In this case each quantity has one decimal place. Thus, the mass of the gas, 1.4 g,
has one decimal place.

Using the volume given in the question, 1.05 × 103 cm3, and the definition of density, we have

In dividing numbers, we determine the number of significant figures in our result by counting the number
of significant figures in each quantity. There are two significant figures in our answer, corresponding to the
smaller number of significant figures in the two numbers that form the ratio. Notice that in this example,
following the rules for determining significant figures gives an answer containing only two significant
figures, even though each of the measured quantities contained at least three significant figures.

Chemistry, The Central Science, 12th Edition © 2012 Pearson Education, Inc.
Theodore L. Brown; H. Eugene LeMay, Jr.; Bruce E. Bursten; Catherine J. Murphy; and Patrick Woodward
 Sample Exercise 1.8 Determining the Number of Significant Figures
in a Calculated Quantity
Continued

Practice Exercise
To how many significant figures should the mass of the container be measured (with and without the gas)
in Sample Exercise 1.8 for the density to be calculated to three significant figures?

Answer: five (For the difference in the two masses to have three significant figures, there must be two
decimal places in the masses of the filled and empty containers. Therefore, each mass must be measured to
five significant figures.)

Chemistry, The Central Science, 12th Edition © 2012 Pearson Education, Inc.
Theodore L. Brown; H. Eugene LeMay, Jr.; Bruce E. Bursten; Catherine J. Murphy; and Patrick Woodward
 Sample Exercise 1.9 Converting Units
If a woman has a mass of 115 lb, what is her mass in grams? (Use the relationships between units given on the
back inside cover of the text.)

Solution
Because we want to change from pounds to grams, we look for a relationship between
these units of mass. From the back inside cover we have 1 lb = 453.6 g. To cancel pounds
and leave grams, we write the conversion factor with grams in the numerator and pounds
in the denominator:

The answer can be given to only three significant figures, the number of significant
figures in 115 lb. The process we have used is diagrammed in the margin.

Practice Exercise
By using a conversion factor from the back inside cover, determine the length in kilometers of a 500.0-mi
automobile race.

Answer: 804.7 km

Chemistry, The Central Science, 12th Edition © 2012 Pearson Education, Inc.
Theodore L. Brown; H. Eugene LeMay, Jr.; Bruce E. Bursten; Catherine J. Murphy; and Patrick Woodward
 Sample Exercise 1.10 Converting Units Using Two or More
Conversion Factors
The average speed of a nitrogen molecule in air at 25 °C is 515 m/s. Convert this speed to miles per hour.
Solution
To go from the given units, m/s, to the desired units, mi/hr, we must convert meters to miles and seconds to
hours. From our knowledge of SI prefixes we know that 1 km = 10 3 m. From the relationships given on the
back inside cover of the book, we find that 1 mi = 1.6093 km. Thus, we can convert m to km and then
convert km to mi. From our knowledge of time we know that 60s = 1 min and 60 min = 1 hr. Thus, we can
convert s to min and then convert min to hr. The overall process is

Applying first the conversions for distance and then those for time, we can set up one long equation in
which unwanted units are canceled:

Chemistry, The Central Science, 12th Edition © 2012 Pearson Education, Inc.
Theodore L. Brown; H. Eugene LeMay, Jr.; Bruce E. Bursten; Catherine J. Murphy; and Patrick Woodward
 Sample Exercise 1.10 Converting Units Using Two or More
Conversion Factors
Continued
Solution
Our answer has the desired units. We can check our calculation, using the estimating procedure described in the
“Strategies in Chemistry” box. The given speed is about 500 m/s. Dividing by 1000 converts m to km, giving 0.5 km/s.
Because 1 mi is about 1.6 km, this speed corresponds to 0.5/1.6 = 0.3 mi/s. Multiplying by 60 gives about 0.3 × 60 = 20
mi/min. Multiplying again by 60 gives 20 × 60 = 1200 mi/hr. The approximate solution (about 1200 mi/hr) and the
detailed solution (1150 mi/hr) are reasonably close. The answer to the detailed solution has three significant figures,
corresponding to the number of significant figures in the given speed in the m/s.

Practice Exercise
A car travels 28 mi per gallon of gasoline. How many kilometers per liter will it go?

Answer: 12 km/L

Chemistry, The Central Science, 12th Edition © 2012 Pearson Education, Inc.
Theodore L. Brown; H. Eugene LeMay, Jr.; Bruce E. Bursten; Catherine J. Murphy; and Patrick Woodward
 Sample Exercise 1.11 Converting Volume Units
Earth’s oceans contain approximately 1.36 × 109 km3 of water. Calculate the volume in liters.

Solution
From the back inside cover, we find 1 L = 10 –3 m3, but there is no relationship listed involving km 3. From
our knowledge of SI prefixes, however, we know 1 km = 10 3 m and we can use this relationship between
lengths to write the desired conversion factor between volumes:

Thus, converting from km3 to m3 to L, we have

Practice Exercise
If the volume of an object is reported as 5.0 ft 3, what is the volume in cubic meters?

Answer: 0.14 m3

Chemistry, The Central Science, 12th Edition © 2012 Pearson Education, Inc.
Theodore L. Brown; H. Eugene LeMay, Jr.; Bruce E. Bursten; Catherine J. Murphy; and Patrick Woodward
 Sample Exercise 1.12 Conversions Involving Density
What is the mass in grams of 1.00 gal of water? The density of water is 1.00 g/mL.

Solution
Before we begin solving this exercise, we note the following:
1. We are given 1.00 gal of water (the known, or given, quantity) and asked to calculate its mass in
grams (the unknown).
2. We have the following conversion factors either given, commonly known, or available on the back
inside cover of the text:

The first of these conversion factors must be used as written (with grams in the numerator) to give the
desired result, whereas the last conversion factor must be inverted in order to cancel gallons:

The unit of our final answer is appropriate, and we’ve taken care of our significant figures. We can further
check our calculation by estimating. We can round 1.057 off to 1. Then focusing on the numbers that do not
equal 1 gives 4 × 1000 = 4000 g, in agreement with the detailed calculation.

Chemistry, The Central Science, 12th Edition © 2012 Pearson Education, Inc.
Theodore L. Brown; H. Eugene LeMay, Jr.; Bruce E. Bursten; Catherine J. Murphy; and Patrick Woodward
 Sample Exercise 1.12 Conversions Involving Density
Continued

Solution
You should also use common sense to assess the reasonableness of your answer. In this case we know that
most people can lift a gallon of milk with one hand, although it would be tiring to carry it around all day. Milk
is mostly water and will have a density not too different from that of water. Therefore, we might estimate that a
gallon of water has mass that is more than 5 lb but less than 50 lb. The mass we have calculated, 3.78 kg ×
2.2 lb/kg = 8.3 lb, is thus reasonable as an order-of-magnitude estimate.

Practice Exercise
The density of benzene is 0.879 g/mL. Calculate the mass in grams of 1.00 qt of benzene.

Answer: 832 g

Chemistry, The Central Science, 12th Edition © 2012 Pearson Education, Inc.
Theodore L. Brown; H. Eugene LeMay, Jr.; Bruce E. Bursten; Catherine J. Murphy; and Patrick Woodward