CHAPTER 2

Measurement and
Experimental Techniques

2013 Marshall Cavendish International (Singapore) Private Limited

Chapter 2 Measurement and

Experimental Techniques

2.1 Measuring Physical Quantities

2.2 Selecting Suitable Apparatus for Experiments

2.1

Measuring Physical Quantities

Learning Outcome
At the end of this section, you should be able to:
name appropriate apparatus for measuring
mass;
time;
temperature;
volumes of liquids and gases.

2.1

Measuring Physical Quantities

S.I. Units
The modern metric system used to measure
quantities of different things is called the
International System of Units (S.I. Units).
Scientists use S.I. units as a common standard
for their measurements.

2.1

Measuring Physical Quantities

Measuring Mass
The S.I. unit for mass is the kilogram (kg).
Other commonly used units are:
gram (g)
tonne (t)

2.1

Measuring Physical Quantities

Measuring Mass

Beam balance

The electronic balance is

used for precise and fast
weighing of small amounts of
substances with an accuracy
of up to 0.01 g.

2.1

Measuring Physical Quantities

Measuring Time
The S.I. unit for time is the second (s).

Other commonly used units are:

minute (min)
hour (h)

2.1

Measuring Physical Quantities

Measuring Time

Analogue stopwatch

Digital stopwatch

2.1

Measuring Physical Quantities

Measuring Temperature
The S.I. unit for temperature is the kelvin (K).
The degree Celsius (oC) is also commonly used.
Temperature in K = Temperature in oC + 273
Note that there is no degree sign (o) before K.

2.1

Measuring Physical Quantities

Measuring Temperature
Mercury or alcohol thermometer
For measuring temperature
of liquids or reaction
mixtures
Usually measures
temperatures ranging from
10oC to 110oC
Accuracy of 0.5oC

Bulb of a mercury thermometer

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2.1

Measuring Physical Quantities

Measuring Temperature
Data logger
Connected to a temperature sensor
More accurate than the mercury or
alcohol thermometer
Can record data continuously over a
period of time
Saves data (in a computer) which can
be used to produce graphs and charts
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2.1

Measuring Physical Quantities

Measuring Volume
The S.I. unit for volume is the cubic metre (m3).

Other commonly used units are:

cubic centimetre (cm3)
cubic decimetre (dm3)

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2.1

Measuring Physical Quantities

How do we measure volumes of liquids?

Volume
Degree of accuracy

Measuring cylinder
More accurate than
a beaker
Measures up to the
nearest cm3.

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2.1

Measuring Physical Quantities

How do we measure volumes of liquids?

Burette
Accurately measures
variable volumes of
liquid to the nearest
0.05 cm3
Can be used to
deliver different
volumes of liquids

Pipette
Accurately measures
fixed volumes of liquid.
e.g. 20.0 cm3, 25.0 cm3

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2.1

Measuring Physical Quantities

How do we read the volume of a liquid?

Align your eyes to the liquid level.
Convex meniscus

Read the scale at the

top of the meniscus.

Concave meniscus

Read the scale at the

bottom of the meniscus.
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2.1

Measuring Physical Quantities

How do we measure volumes of gases?

The gas syringe is commonly used to measure
to volume of a gas.
It measures a maximum volume of 100 cm3.
barrel
plunger

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Chapter 2 Measurement and

Experimental Techniques

2.1 Measuring Physical Quantities

2.2 Selecting Suitable Apparatus for

Experiments

17

2.2

Selecting Suitable Apparatus for

Experiments

Learning Outcome
At the end of this section, you should be able to:
select suitable apparatus for collecting a
sample of gas.

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2.2

Selecting Suitable Apparatus for

Experiments

Methods for Collecting Gases

The method of collection of gas depends on:
solubility of the gas in water;
density of the gas, compared to air.

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2.2

Selecting Suitable Apparatus for

Experiments

Collecting Gases
Downward displacement of water
For collecting gases that are insoluble
or slightly soluble in water
E.g. carbon dioxide,
hydrogen, oxygen
delivery tube

gas jar
gas

gas

URL

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2.2

Selecting Suitable Apparatus for

Experiments

Collecting Gases
Downward delivery of gas
For collecting gases that are soluble in water
and denser than air
gas

E.g. chlorine,
hydrogen chloride
gas jar

delivery
tube

gas
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2.2

Selecting Suitable Apparatus for

Experiments

Collecting Gases
Upward delivery of gas
For collecting gases that are soluble
in water and less dense than air
gas

E.g. ammonia

gas jar

delivery
tube
gas

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2.2

Selecting Suitable Apparatus for

Experiments

Collecting Gases
If we need to collect and measure the volume of
a gas, we can also use a gas syringe.

barrel
plunger

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2.2

Selecting Suitable Apparatus for

Experiments

Solubility and Density of Some Common Gases

Gas

Solubility

Density
compared to air

Method of
collection

Hydrogen

Not soluble

Less dense

Oxygen

Very slightly
soluble

Slightly denser

Displacement of
water

Carbon dioxide

Slightly soluble

Denser

Chlorine

Soluble

Denser

Hydrogen
chloride

Very soluble

Denser

Sulfur dioxide

Very soluble

Denser

Ammonia

Extremely
soluble

Less dense

Downward
delivery

Upward delivery
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2.2

Selecting Suitable Apparatus for

Experiments

Drying a Gas
Pass the moist gas through a drying agent.

Concentrated sulfuric acid

Quicklime (calcium oxide)
Fused calcium chloride

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2.2

Selecting Suitable Apparatus for

Experiments

Drying with Concentrated Sulfuric Acid

moist
gas in

dry gas
out

Note the
positions of the
delivery tubes
Concentrated sulfuric
acid used to dry most
gases except ammonia

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2.2

Selecting Suitable Apparatus for

Experiments

Drying with Quicklime (Calcium Oxide)

dry gas
out

Quicklime used for

drying ammonia
moist
gas in
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2.2

Selecting Suitable Apparatus for

Experiments

Drying with Fused Calcium Chloride

moist
gas in

dry gas
out

Fused calcium
chloride used for
drying most gases

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Chapter 2 Measurement and

Experimental Techniques
Concept Map

29

Chapter 2 Measurement and

Experimental Techniques
Concept Map

30

Chapter 2 Measurement and

Experimental Techniques
The URLs are valid as at 15 October 2012.

Acknowledgements
(slide 1) balance ImageDJ CD
(slide 6) electronic balance Marshall Cavendish International (Singapore)
(slide 8) digital stopwatch Marshall Cavendish International (Singapore)
(slide 10) mercury thermometer Jurii | Wikimedia Commons | CC BY 3.0
(http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/deed.en)
(slide 11) thermohygrometer rotronic DV2 Harke | Wikimedia Commons |
public domain
(slide 11) vierkanal datenlogger mit display Trotec GmbH & Co. KG |
CC BY-SA 3.0
(http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/de/deed.en)
(slides 1314) apparatus Ginosphotos | Dreamstime.com

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