Dr. Stephen Lukacs (October 2017)
An introduction to chemistry, measurement and basic mathematics, and matter. These math skills will be extensively used through the course. The skills will include 2nd level unit-conversions and temperature conversions.
(October 2017) This lecture is about the three necessary components of a scientific number: (i) the size or magnitude of the number itself, (ii) the unit of measure to give context and meaning to that number, and (iii) the expression of proper precision through significant figures.
Remember and practice: (i) the size or magnitude of the number itself, (ii) the unit of measure to give context and meaning to that number, and (iii) the expression of proper precision through significant figures.
(October 2017) For the very BIG and the very small. Scientific notation does two things for us. It is great for expressing very big and very small numbers and it also unambiguously expresses the measurement to the proper significant figures.
Scientific notation does two things for us: (i) allows us to express very big and very small numbers in a compact form, and (ii) unambiguously communicate the proper significant figures for us.
(October 2017) No Measurement is Ever Exact. Every measurement is precise, but never exact. Significant figures are the proper expression of that precision and the process of carrying through by the weakest link.
Carefully watch this podcast because it is not just a matter of recognizing significant figures, but carrying them through addition/subtraction and multiplication/division properly. Those use two different rules, so see the differences and practice them properly.
(October 2017) Section 2.6 in your text covers this topic. You can cheat or cheese your way through this by using the internet or your study group, but you need to learn this Unit-Cancellation Method now, so that you can apply it when we get to chemical conversions in Chapters 6 through 16.
So learn it all very very well. Make it a part of yourself, own the knowledge, by practicing many many problems.
(October 2017) Basic algebra is used to do temperature conversions. You should learn these basic math techniques because we'll use it again in the gas chapter.
(August 2019) Periodic Table, Conventional Conversions, SI Prefixes, Polyatomic Ions, Chemical Conversions, Chemical Equations, Table of Electronegativities, and the Redox Recipe.
Print it. Keep it for you'll use it all semester, and beyond.