Chem1 General Chemistry Virtual Textbook
The Measure of Matter all about units, measurements, and error
The instruments provide the numbers, but the user must judge their meaning
1 Units and dimensions
Scales and units • the SI base units • SI decimal prefixes units outside the SI • derived units • dimensional analysis unit conversions • units and their ranges in Chemistry
2 The meaning of measure
Uncertainty is certain! • random and systematic error absolute and relative uncertainty • dealing with scatter: the mean accuracy and precision
3 Significant figures and rounding off
Digits: significant and otherwise • implied uncertainty of a number rules for rounding off • rounding results of calculations roundoff error
4 Reliability of a measurement
Attributes of a measurement • more than one answer: dispersion of the mean • systematic error can you trust the results? • the standard deviation
5 Drawing conclusions from data
The bell-shaped curve • confidence intervals and levels using statistical tests to make decisions how to lie with statistics: some dangerous pitfalls