Session 1: Measurements 📏

In this session, students who can be in class will learn and practice:

1. using significant figures as implicit uncertainties, and
2. using pipettes, syringes, micropipettes, and burettes for measurements

If you are off-campus, watch the videos on glassware usage. We will be using them again in the coming week.

Significant Figures as Implicit Uncertainty

If you are on-campus, we will work through this together. You do not need to watch the video.

If you are off-campus, watch the first 16:30 of the above video.

Identify the number of significant figures in the following:

555

5505

0.5505

5.505 x 10⁵

5.55 ± 0.005

50

0.50

An alternative way to handling significant figures is to systematically convert all values to scientific notation.

Seeing significant figures ("sig fig", "s.f.") needs to become a background process. Every number you encounter needs to be thought of in this framework.

A common time to slip up is when you get a number from a calculator. Beware of those 1.54699389492!

Using pipettes, burettes, and syringes

Volumetric pipettes

Micropipette

Burettes

Homework

Add the Anki deck called Chem Lab Equipment, and learn the names of these chemical equipment. An A3 sheet with drawing is available for you to take notes.

You have previously printed and completed part of the Measurement practice questions. Complete Q1--4 and check your answers. You will be uploading this at the end of the week. This should take no more than 20 minutes.