Interpreting and Converting Metric Units (CHEM 1405)

Back to Chemistry 1405 Practice Problems

Part One

Instructions: We need to learn how to evaluate the measurements that we are given. For every measurement, there is an assigned number and unit (or symbol). Use the table below to further analyze a series of measurements.

 

Number

Base unit

Base Unit Symbol

Prefix

Prefix Symbol

Type of Measurement

1)  100 km

2)  14 ms

3)  24 cg

4)  2640 mL

5)  215 mm

6)  1.25 LaTeX: \muμg

7)  3.4 dL

8)  4.65 cm 

9)  213 kg

10)  55.3 L

11)  21.4 mg 

12)  0.04 LaTeX: \muμs

13)  14 cg

14)  14.5 mL

15)  24 km

 

 

Part Two: Factor Label Method

1)  100 km = ________ m

    1. Write the given:
    2. Multiply the given by an empty fraction:
    3. Write the same units in the given on the bottom of the fraction so that the units cancel. (NO NUMBERS YET!)
    4. Write the conversion unit you are looking for on top of the fraction.  HOWEVER, if you are converting one prefix unit to a different prefix unit, you will first need to convert to the base unit and then use an additional conversion factor to convert to the new prefix unit.  (STILL no numbers!)
    5. Place a 1 by the unit with a prefix.  This unit may be either on top or bottom depending on what your given is.
    6. Place the conversion value (the meaning of the prefix) in front of the base unit.
    7. Multiply everything on top and divide by everything on bottom.

 

 

2)  2 s = ________ ms

    1. Write the given:
    2. Multiply the given by an empty fraction:
    3. Write the same units in the given on the bottom of the fraction so that the units cancel. (NO NUMBERS YET!)
    4. Write the conversion unit you are looking for on top of the fraction.  HOWEVER, if you are converting one prefix unit to a different prefix unit, you will first need to convert to the base unit and then use an additional conversion factor to convert to the new prefix unit.  (STILL no numbers!)
    5. Place a 1 by the unit with a prefix.  This unit may be either on top or bottom depending on what your given is.
    6. Place the conversion value (the meaning of the prefix) in front of the base unit.
    7. Multiply everything on top and divide by everything on bottom.

 

 

3)  0.45 dg = ________ kg

    1. Write the given:
    2. Multiply the given by an empty fraction:
    3. Write the same units in the given on the bottom of the fraction so that the units cancel. (NO NUMBERS YET!)
    4. Write the conversion unit you are looking for on top of the fraction.  HOWEVER, if you are converting one prefix unit to a different prefix unit, you will first need to convert to the base unit and then use an additional conversion factor to convert to the new prefix unit.  (STILL no numbers!)
    5. Place a 1 by the unit with a prefix.  This unit may be either on top or bottom depending on what your given is.
    6. Place the conversion value (the meaning of the prefix) in front of the base unit.
    7. Multiply everything on top and divide by everything on bottom.

 

 

4)  25 L = ________ mL

    1. Write the given:
    2. Multiply the given by an empty fraction:
    3. Write the same units in the given on the bottom of the fraction so that the units cancel. (NO NUMBERS YET!)
    4. Write the conversion unit you are looking for on top of the fraction.  HOWEVER, if you are converting one prefix unit to a different prefix unit, you will first need to convert to the base unit and then use an additional conversion factor to convert to the new prefix unit.  (STILL no numbers!)
    5. Place a 1 by the unit with a prefix.  This unit may be either on top or bottom depending on what your given is.
    6. Place the conversion value (the meaning of the prefix) in front of the base unit.
    7. Multiply everything on top and divide by everything on bottom.

 

 

5)  225 cm = ________ mm

    1. Write the given:
    2. Multiply the given by an empty fraction:
    3. Write the same units in the given on the bottom of the fraction so that the units cancel. (NO NUMBERS YET!)
    4. Write the conversion unit you are looking for on top of the fraction.  HOWEVER, if you are converting one prefix unit to a different prefix unit, you will first need to convert to the base unit and then use an additional conversion factor to convert to the new prefix unit.  (STILL no numbers!)
    5. Place a 1 by the unit with a prefix.  This unit may be either on top or bottom depending on what your given is.
    6. Place the conversion value (the meaning of the prefix) in front of the base unit.
    7. Multiply everything on top and divide by everything on bottom.

 

 

For some extra practice, try the following!

6)  625 mL =  _____ L

7)  384 g =     _____ kg

8)  12 cm =    _____ LaTeX: \muμm

9)  21.4 kg =  _____ g

10)  10 ms =  _____ s

11)  14 L =     _____ LaTeX: \muμL

12)  55.4 L =  _____ mL

13)  4.2 dm = _____ km

14)  21 g =     _____ mg