ABSTRACT
Measuring an object means using a particular unit of measurement. For example, when measuring the length of an object, we could use inches or centimeters. Or we could measure different properties of an object, e.g., length (in centimeters), mass (in grams), volume (in liters), and so on. This chapter investigates conversion factors and dimensional analysis as tools for interconverting between different units. After introducing the factor-label method as an approach for unit conversions, this chapter introduces the amount of a substance and its unit mole (mol) as a central concept in chemistry. The amount of a substance relates the macroscopic (mass or volume) of a substance to the nanoscopic (particles). This connection will be seen in future chapters as a critical tool for relating the amount of different elements in a compound or different substances in a reaction. To conclude, the chapter leads the reader through the calculation of conversion factors like density, amount concentration, and enthalpy.
