Chemistry conversion

Conversion Factor: The collection of quantitative data is called measurement. Proper handling and correct interpretation of these measurements is essential for any scientific field. There is also a very important method of working out problems in chemistry, called the conversion factor method.

The conversion factor method of solving problems is a kind of problem-solving tool. This is sometimes also called the dimensional analysis method, the unit-factor method, or factor-label method. The method for this depends on the quantities that are possible to be defined as equalities.

Two fractions can be formed from any equality, each of which is equal, always, to one.

For example, if 1 minute = 60 seconds, then, either fraction – 1 min/ 60s or 60s/ 1min – is equal to 1. Therefore, multiplication by any one of the factors does not change the total value of the measurements. The only change is the unit of expression of measurement.

Unit Conversion: To be able to use measurements properly, it is essential to realise that measurements are never just a set of numbers. In fact, they also contain a measurement unit. One must learn about the International System Of Units or The SI System, then approach unit conversion.

To make unit conversion easy, and to facilitate fast and simplified problem solving, a host of websites provide free unit conversion services. These sites also provide information about measurement systems, units, and related topics, along with online calculators and software for easy unit conversions. One can also find online calculators for measuring pH, temperature, molecular weight, and many other such chemistry figures and units. They usually have an automated system where you can type in or select the source of the international symbol or the US name. That is to say, you write the numerical value of your measurement and a permissible unit into the free-form field. Then, you can select, or type in the desired unit from the selector box or into the free-form field. The automated system then does your conversion for you instantly.

Conversion Tables: Many different kinds of conversion tables are needed regularly in the study of chemistry, whether at school level or for research. These include things like the periodic table, valences of the elements, flame test colours, ion names, temperatures pressures and so on. Conversion tables are lists of units with accompanying values in other relevant units. For example, a conversion table could have the list of atomic weights, with the related atomic numbers of various elements.

Some of these conversion tables are in the form of interesting games, like the challenging hangman game in which the words are all just units of measurement. This can help to create and memorise lists of units and their conversions easily and with fun. Balancing chemical equations is a painful process without the help of conversion tables. Online, step-by-step tutorials are available to teach you how to balance chemical equations, with the help of worked examples. These, obviously come accompanied by atomic weight and atomic number tables.

The units for solution concentration are also quite difficult to remember offhand. Definitions and examples are easily available for calculating the percent of composition by mass, mole fraction, molarity, molality, and normality. Almost all sites have a basic set of tables with some of the most useful physical constants and conversion factors, as well as unit prefixes. There are online conversion tables for altitude, temperature, pressure, density, and speed of sound. Many different units are available that are used constantly in chemistry as well as some rare less frequently used ones.