Registered nurses
work to promote
patient health and to
prevent and treat
disease.
CHAPTER 2 READINESS
Key Math Skills
Identifying Place Values (1.4A)
Using Positive and Negative Numbers in Calculations (1.4B)
Calculating a Percentage (1.4C)
Writing Numbers in Scientific Notation (1.4F)
Learning Goal Write the names and abbreviations for the metric or SI
units used in measurements of length, volume, mass, temperature, and time.
Chemistry: An Introduction to General, Organic, and Biological Chemistry, Twelfth Edition
UNITS OF MEASUREMENT
Scientists use the metric system of measurement and
have adopted a modification of the metric system called the
International System of Units as a worldwide standard.
The International System of Units (SI) is an official
system of measurement used throughout the world for units
of length, volume, mass, temperature, and time.
1 m = 100 cm 1 m = 1.09 yd
1 m = 39.4 in.
2.54 cm = 1 in.
1L
= 1000 mL
1L
= 1.06 qt
946 mL = 1 qt
1 kg = 1000 g
1 kg = 2.20 lb
454 g = 1 lb
The mass of a nickel
is 5.01 g on an
electronic scale.
Water freezes:
32 F
0F
The Kelvin scale for temperature
begins at the lowest possible
temperature, 0 K.
A thermometer is used to measure
temperature.
STUDY CHECK
Identify the SI units for each of the following:
A. volume
B. mass
C. length
D. temperature
SOLUTION
Identify the SI units for each of the following:
A. The SI unit for volume is the
cubic meter, m3.
B. The SI unit for mass is the
kilogram, kg.
C. The SI unit for length is the
meter, m.
D. The SI unit for temperature is the kelvin, K.