Dimensiona

l Analysis
The secret to making chemistry easy.
Or, at least a lot easier!
INPUT

Many people are afraid of chemistry.

Usually, they say it is because of the
math involved.
 1molCU  1molCu 2 S  159.1Cu 2 S 
80 gCu     = 1.00 x10 2 gCu 2 S
 63.5 g  2molCu  1molCu 2 S 

P1V1 P2V2
=
T1 T2
 INPUT

• Most of the math skill you need to succeed in

chemistry, you learned by 5th grade. In fact,
three of the four equations on the previous
slide use this simple type of math. (The
fourth only requires addition.)
• Here’s an example of the math skill you will
need: 1 x 1
2 3 1
x =
1
3 x
4 2
2
 INPUT

This same method works with anything!

1 1
 cat × skunk   dog × cat  cat 2

 
 ×
 
 =
  skunk × frog  dog × frog
2
 dog
dog x dog 1
 INPUT

• In chemistry, it is always important to keep

track of the units so that you can use this
trick to solve problems. You will solve long
conversions that look scary, but really just
use this simple method of cross canceling
(also
This known
problem
Remember, asalso,
dimensional
canceling
maythat analysis)
lookanything
works . anything,
complicated,
with
not but uses
canceled so
you
the same
must can
be use
trick.
it toItsimplify
included is your
in set up
the
sonumbers,
that things
answer. too.
you
want to get rid of cancel.
8
 mol C  1 mol O 2  32 g O 2  160 g O2
20.0 g C ×     = 53.3 g O2
 12.0 g C  1 mol C  mol O 2  3
3
 DIMENSIONAL ANALYSIS

Both in chemistry and in real life, you can

use dimensional analysis. The trick is to find
two ways to describe the same thing.
Like 1 mole of carbon = 12 g or $1.70 = 1 gallon
of gas

If you turn them into fractions, they become the nearly

magical conversion factors.
1 mol 12 g C $1.70 1 gal
or or
12 g C mol gal $1.70
The trick is to have one unit on the top of the fraction
and another on the bottom. Then you can use the
fraction to convert from one of the units to the other!
 DIMENSIONAL ANALYSIS

• Here’s an example of how to use conversion

factors. How far can you get on just $5.00
of gas?
• You have $5.00
• 1 gallon = $1.70, or Gas
25 miles costs ($1.70/gal)
= gallon
miles/gal
• Your car gets 25 miles to the gallon.
Solving problems involves just three steps.
1. List the given information. (done)
2. Decide what you want to end up with.
3. Arrange the conversion factors to cancel
what you don’t want and leave what you
do want.
 DIMENSIONAL ANALYSIS

• Here’s an example of how to use conversion

factors. How far can you get on just $5.00
of gas? We’re
• You have $5.00 solving for a
• 1 gallon = $1.70, or Gas costs ($1.70/gal) distance.
• Your car gets 25 miles/gal. This unit
Now the only units
We don’t want $
left
measures
are what we
inthe
Start gal the  25miles wanted.
1 with
answer, so distance, so
$5.00×use
given value.  get rid of =the
 ×Next,
 a conversion 73.5 Multiply
miles
gallons.
numberswe’ll solve
on the
by
top
 $1.70
factor
 
to get rid gal  and divide by
of the $. for miles.
numbers on the
bottom.
DIMENSIONAL ANALYSIS

Now it’s your turn to try

some dimensional analysis
problems on your own!

Keep track of those units!