Measurement and Chemistry (Sept 11, 2009)

We started off the class with going through the handout:
WHMIS Classes and Hazard Symbols
Compressed Gas
Flammable and Combustible Material
Oxidizing Material
Materials Causing Immediate and Serious Toxic Effects
Materials Causing Other Toxic Effects
Biohazardous Infectious Materials
Corrosive Material (must be aware of this symbol due to the dangers of acids and chemicals)
Dangerously Reactive Material

Mr. Doktor then went on about the first Section:
Measurement and Chemistry
1.accurate measurements are essential in the scientific method
-this is important because if the measurements are not accurate, it can result in a
hazardous chemical reaction, and someone could get hurt
2.most common system in use today is the SI system
-not the metric system
-metric system started about 300 years ago (France)

There are 7 Fundamental Units used in measurements:
1. Mass (kg)
2. Distance (m)
3. Time (s)
4. Temperature (k)
5. Amount (mol) ---> 6.02x10^23
6. Current (A)
7. Luminosity (cd)
(*bolded measurements are the main ones we will be using in Chemistry 11)

Mr. Doktor then went over prefixes and SI units.
KILOmeter-1000
MEGAbite-1mil
GIGAbite-1bil

10^9 - (G)m 1m============10^-1 (d)m
10^6 - (M)m 0.1m===========10^-2 (c)m
10^3 - (K)m 0.01m==========10^-3 (m)m
10^2 - (h)m 0.001m=========10^-6 (cc)m cubic cm
10^1 - (da)m 0.00000001m====10^-9 (n)m nanometer
1 - m 0.00000000001m=10^-12 (p)m pictometer

Significant Digits:
1. Digits 1-9 are always significant (important)
2. Zeros are significant if they are right of a decimal

(Sheryl Dris blog entry)