Tema 1

MATTER AND MEASUREMENT

- THE SCIENTIFIC METHOD

- MATTER AND ITS MEASUREMENT THE INTERNATIONAL SYSTEM OF UNITS (S.I.).
- SAFETY IN THE LABORATORY. LABORATORY EQUIPMENT.

1. THE SCIENTIFIC METHOD

To answer all the questions about all around us the scientist have established special
procedures. They are known by the generic name of scientific method it is divided in
to common stages.
1) Ask a question: A problem to be solved needs to ask question, such as: why and
how happened?
2) Formulate a hypothesis: A hypothesis is plausible solution to a problem. It has to
be proved.
3) Test the hypothesis: Test to validate the hypothesis that carried out in
laboratories or field work under controlled conditions.
4) Analyze results and draw conclusions. A conclusion about the validity of the
hypothesis is made after studying the results.

2. MATTER AND ITS MEASUREMENT THE INTERNATIONAL SYSTEM OF UNITS (S.I.).

Everything around us is made of matter: water, air, rocks, bodies... we can perceive
this matter directly or with help of instruments.
Matter is everything that occupies space and has mass. When the matter does not
form objects with definite limits, as the water or air we name it a Material System.
When the matter forms objects with definite limits, as the table or a book, we name
it a body.
The properties of the matter can be classified:
- Qualitative properties are properties that are observed and can generally not
be measured with a numerical result: color, beauty, soft...
- Quantitative properties: which have numerical characteristics for example:
mass, temperature, length...
- Intensive property is one whose magnitude is independent of the size of the
system: color, density...
- Extensive property: is a property matter of that changes as the amount of
matter changes. For example: mass, length, volume...
- General property: Are those that are present in the matter and can be value
such as mass, volume or temperature.
- Characteristic or specific properties: These are those that have their own and
characteristic value for each type of matter, which makes it possible to identify
 it. Its value does not depend on the quantity. For example: Density, melting or
boiling.
- A physical quantity is all the properties of matter that can be quantified
objectively by taking a measurement. For example: length, mass, temperature.
But beauty, color, affected are not examples because they cannot be
quantified.
To measure a physical quantity, we need to establish a standard of
measurement that we can use to make comparison with other examples. This
standard is called unit. A measurement is expressed as a number followed by
unit of the symbol the unit that is being used. For example: one kilogram = 1
kg.
The names of the units are written in lower case and each unit has a symbol.
Sometimes measurements containing many zeros are written in an
abbreviated form. This is called scientific notation and is used because is makes
easier to express charger quantities. For example: 5.10 l = 50000000 l
There are many different physical quantities but all of them can be expressed
according to what are known as fundamental quantities, other quantities
which are obtained from them are derived quantities.

Fundamental. Not depend of another; mass,

. temperature, length, charge…
Physical quantities Derived. Depend of fundamental, surface,
. volume, speed, force, density…

BASE QUANTITIES

BASE QUANTITY UNIT (S.I.) SYMBOL

LENGTH METRE m
MASS GRAM g
TIME SECOND s
ELECTRIC CURRENT AMPERE A
TEMPERATURE KELVIN K
LUMINOUS INTENSITY CANDELA Cd
AMOUNT OF SUBSTANCE MOL mol
DERIVED QUANTITIES

QUANTITY DEFINITION DERIVED UNITS (S.I.)

(A) surface length X length m (squared meters)
(V) Volume Area X length m (cubic meters)
(length X length X length)
(v) speed Distance/time m/s (meters per second)
(d) density Mass/volume Kg/m (kilogram per cubic meters)
(a) acceleration Speed/time m/s (meters per squared second)
(F) force Mass X acceleration Kg x m/s (Newton = N)
(E/w) Energy Force X distance Kg m /s (Joule = J)
(P) Pressure Force/area Kg / (m X s ) (Pascal = P)

MULTIPLES AND SUBMULTIPLES

Writing very large or very small amounts is simplified using multiples and submultiples of
units. They are indicated by prefixes or in abbreviated for by there symbols.
PREFIX ABBREVIATION POWER TO 10
KILO kL X 10
MULTIPLES HECTO hL X 10
DECA daL X 10
unit liter L
DECI dL X 10
SUBMULTIPLES CENTI cL X 10
MILI mL X 10

Kilo – hecto – deca deci – centi - mili

The volume can be measured in liters or in cubic units. The relationship between these
units are

Examples: - Calculate the density of an object of 3kg that occupies 1 cm3

m = 3 kg
v = 10 cm3 d = m/V = 3kg/10 m3 = 0,3 kg/m3
d) = x?
The density of the mercury is 13600 kg/m3, if move have 21 calculate the mass of mercury.
D = 13600 kg/m3
M = x? d = m/v = 13600 = x / 0,002 = 13600 x 0,002 = x = 27,2 kg
V = 21 = 2 dm3 = 2 x 10-3

Calculate the volume of 5kg of Iron if its density is 6500 kg / m3

D = 6500 kg / m3
m = x? 6500 = x /5 = 6500 x 5 = 32500
v=5

3. SAFETY IN THE LABORATORY. LABORATORY EQUIPMENT

Laboratories are places where we can enjoy science, but there are dangers that come
from using chemical products and cutting or piercing equipment. Knowing the
equipment and safety rules, minimizes the risk of accidents.

SAFETY RULES
- Keep the work area and tidy.
- Use the laboratory coat to protect clothes.
- Use protective goggles and if necessary, latex cloves.
- Tie up long hair.
- Don’t walk around the laboratory without reason and about all, don’t run.
- Wash your hands with soap after touching any chemical product…………….
- Don´t leave bottles open or in after there contents don’t taste o swallow
the products.
- Avoid touching heat sources.
- Strong acids and bases must be handled very carefully because most of them
are corrosive.
- If you have mix water with acid, add the acid to the water and never the other
way around.
- Check the hazard symbols on the bathes of chemical products.
Exempla:
The density of a substance is 1,92 g/cm3 . If we have 10kg calculate the volume.
V = x?
d = 1,92 g/cm3 1,92-3 kg