Measurement decimal prefixes

Scientific measurements are expressed in the metric system. As you know, this is a decimal-based system in which all of the units of a particular quantity are related to one another by factors of 10. The more common prefixes used to express these factors are listed in Table 1.2 (page 7). 

The measurement system that you will most likely encounter is the SI (Metric) system. Each quantity (such as mass and volume) has a base unit and a prefix that modifies the base unit. The prefixes are the same for all quantities and are based on a decimal system. Below are some basic SI units we will introduce others in later chapters ... 

The metric system, or Systeme International d Unites (SI system as it is commonly known), is the predominant system of measurement in the world. In fact, the United States is one of only about three countries that do not commonly use the metric system. The metric system attempts to eliminate odd and often difircult-to-remember conversions for measurements (5,280 feet in a mile, for example). It is a decimal-based system with standard terminology for measurements of length, volume, and mass (weight). It also uses standard prefixes to measure multiples of the standard units. 

Time The SI base unit for time is the second (s). The frequency of microwave radiation given off by a cesium-133 atom is the physical standard used to establish the length of a second. Cesium clocks are more reliable than the clocks and stopwatches that you use to measure time. For ordinary tasks, a second is a short amount of time. Many chemical reactions take place in less than a second. To better describe the range of possible measurements, scientists add prefixes to the base units. This task is made easier because the metric system is a decimal system. The prefixes in Table 2-2 are based on multiples, or factors, of ten. These prefixes can be used with all SI units. In Section 2.2, you will learn to express quantities such as 0.000 000 015 s in scientific notation, which also is based on multiples of ten. 

The metric and SI systems are decimal systems, in which prefixes are used to indicate fractions and multiples often. The same prefixes are used with all units of measurement. The distances and masses in Table 1-5 illustrate the use of some common prefixes and the relationships among them. 

For many years scientists recorded measurements in metric units, which are related decimally, that is, by powers of 10. In 1960, however, the General Conference of Weights and Measures, the international authority on units, proposed a revised metric system called the International System of Units (abbreviated SI, from the French 5ysteme /ntemationale d Unites). Table 1.2 shows the seven SI base units. All other units of measurement can be derived from these base units. Like metric units, SI units are modified in decimal fashion by a series of prefixes, as shown in Table 1.3. We will use both metric and SI units in this book. 

The metric system is a decimal-based system in contrast to the English system. In the metric system, mass is represented as the gram, length as the meter, and volume as the liter. Any subunit or multiple unit contains one of these units preceded by a prefix indicating the power of ten by which the base unit is to be multiplied to form the subunit or multiple unit. Scientists favor this system over the not-so-systematic English units of measurement. 

The following table gives conversion factors from various units of measure to SI units. It is reproduced from NIST Special Publication 811, Guide for the Use of the International System of Units (SI). The table gives the factor by which a quantity expressed in a non-SI unit should be multiplied in order to calculate its value in the SI. The SI values are expressed in terms of the base, supplementary, and derived units of SI in order to provide a coherent presentation of the conversion factors and facilitate computations (see the table International System of Units in this section). If desired, powers of ten can be avoided by using SI prefixes and shifting the decimal point if necessary. 

The metric system, or International System (SI, from Systlme International), is a decimal system of units for measurements of mass, length, time, and other physical quantities. Built around a set of standard units, the metric system uses factors of 10 to express larger or smaller numbers of these units. To express quantities that are larger or smaller than the standard units, prefixes are added to the names of the units. These prefixes represent multiples of 10, making the metric system a decimal system of measurements. Table 2.1 shows the names, symbols, and numerical values of the common prefixes. Some examples of the more commonly used prefixes are... 

The kilogram is unique among the SI base units for two reasons. Firstly, the unit of mass is the only one whose name contains a prefix (this is a historical accident arising from the old centimeter-gram-second system of measurement mentioned above). Names and symbols for decimal mnltiples and submultiples of the unit of mass are formed... 

All other units of measurement can be derived from these seven base units. SI units are modified in decimal fashion by a series of prefixes, as shown in Table ALL Table A1.2 lists the definitions of a number of common units derived from the SI system. 

The advantage of the SI system is that it is a measuring system based on a decimal system. With calculations written in groups of ten, results can be easily recorded as something called scientific notation. There are written prefixes that indicate exponential values as well. Some of these are listed in Table 2.2 which lists terms used in scientific notation. 

Section 1.4 Measurements in chemistry are made using the metric system. Special emphasis is placed on a particular set of metric units called SI units, which are based on the meter, the kilogram, and the second as the basic units of length, mass, and time, respectively. The metric system employs a set of prefixes to indicate decimal fractions or multiples of the base units. The SI temperature scale is the Kelvin scale, although the Celsius scale is frequently used as well. Density is an important property that equals mass divided by voliune. 

Metric system A decimal system of measurement based on the meter, the kilogram, and the second. Micro A prefix meaning one millionth. 

The metric system of measurement is used by most scientists worldwide and all major nations except the United States. It is a decimal system in which larger and smaller units of a quantity are related by factors of 10. Prefixes are used to designate relationships between the basic unit and larger or smaller units of a quantity. 

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