Questions tagged [units]

For questions about the definition and usage of units of measurement.

Units of measurement are used to define the magnitude of a quantity, based on some agreed reference point. A physical quantity may, therefore, be written as the product of a number and a unit: $$Z = n \times [Z]$$

were $[Z]$ denotes the units of $Z$.

The most common units in scientific usage are those within the SI unit system, which defines seven base units, based on measurable physical quantities which are known to be invariant (with the exception of the kilogram, although this is soon to be remedied). All other SI units are then derived from this, using mathematical relationships between quantities.

This tag may be applied to questions which are about the definition of units and their usage. It may also be applied to the related concept of dimensional analysis, which allows the dimensions (and therefore units) of a quantity to be worked out based on a mathematical formula defining that quantity. For example: $$\text{speed} = \frac{\text{distance}}{\text{time}}$$

The dimensions of distance are length, which has units of metres in the SI system. The dimensions of time are time, which has units of seconds in the SI system. The dimensions of speed are therefore length divided by time, which has units of metres per second in the SI system. $$[\text{speed}] = \frac{[\text{length}]}{[\text{time}]}$$

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When to use Da or u for mass units

Following up on the question Units of mass on the atomic scale, Daltons (Da) and unified mass units (u) are equivalent, but which is used seems to depend on context. For example, when discussing single atoms one typically sees the mass expressed as…
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What do we have both r.a.m. and r.m.m.?

Read Orthocresol's answer here first: What is the difference between "molecular mass", "average atomic mass" and "molar mass"? Orthocresol, in his answer, says that atomic mass is the weighted average mass of the atoms of an element and molecular…
MrAP
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How is the unit of measure "equivalent" abbreviated?

I usually use "eq" but I have been told to use "equiv." in order to avoid confusion with "equation". Is there a reference I can check?
markellos
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Is 44.5 mg/L a measurement of weight or volume?

I have a test result that I am trying to fully grasp. I need to determine how much of a contaminant I need to reach that amount in 4,800 gallons. Making the conversion to liters is no problem, nor is the math necessary to figure how much I need by…
user17960
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Atomic Mass of ¹²C before 1961

Question: Prior to 1961, the atomic mass unit was defined as 1/16 the mass of the atomic mass of oxygen; that is, the atomic mass of oxygen was defined as exactly $\pu{16 amu}$. What was the mass of a $\ce{^{12}C}$ atom prior to 1961 if the…
Amuna
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Why was the unit micrometers spelled backwards in old research papers?

I have recently been doing a literature research project on polymers and have been reading a lot of papers from the 1950s and 1960s (mostly in American journals from American authors). I saw this intriguing text: "the spectra was taken using light…
iammax
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When you report Einstein units do you capitalize it?

When you report Einstein units do you capitalize it? Since we're using it in the context of a unit (and not a name) is capitalization necessary? Example: The measured value was reported as 10 Einstein. or The measured value was reported as 10…
user39636
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What does the word carat really mean?

For gold, the word carat defines its purity whereas in diamonds it indicates its weight. This seems inconsistent -- what does the unit 'carat' actually refer to?
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Why does 1 cubic meter = 1000000 cubic centimeters?

I have the SI chart in front of me. It states that a centi is 10^-2 and since they are already designated cubic meters why does 1 cubic meter equal 1000000 cubic centimeters?
Cetshwayo
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Does the prefix of an inverted unit also get inverted?

What is the energy of radiation that has a frequency of $\pu{2.51 \times 10^11 ms-1}$? (a) $\pu{1.66 \times 10^-19 J}$ (supposedly correct) (b) $\pu{1.66 \times 10^-22 J}$ (c) $\pu{7.92 \times 10^-37 J}$ (d) $\pu{1.66 \times 10^-25 J}$ My argument…
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Conversion of a value between g/gmol and lb/lbmol

I am doing some air emissions calculations and I really just have a bad feeling about my results. By definition, molecular weights are given in $\pu{g/gmol}$. For the substance I have, I was told by a technical contact at Citgo that this material…
Ryan_C
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What is the unit of molar density?

I'm reading Unit operations of Chemical Engineering, 5th edition by Warren McCabe. They defined the "molar density $\rho_{M}$" as $\ce{\rho_{M}=\frac{n}{V}}$. The parameters $n$ and $V$ are the number of moles and volume as usual (they are indicated…
kamikaze
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Units of collisional cross-section and reactive cross-section

I haven't been able to find the units of the reactive cross-section (σ* = Pσ) online but when I do a unit analysis from the equation: $$ k = PσN_A √(\frac{8k_BT}{πμ}) e^{-E_a/RT}$$ then when plotting lnk against $1$/T the intercept is equal…
katara
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Dividing different units of measurement?

1) $$\frac{35 \; \text{cm}^2}{0.62 \; \text{cm}} = 56.4516$$ For the units in the answer, do you put $56.4516$ cm$^2$ or just $56.4516$ cm? 1) $$\frac{0.075 \; \text{g}}{0.0003 \; \text{cm}^3} = 250$$ Same here, do you put $250$ g, $250$ cm$^3,$ or…
BlueMagic1923
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Should you work in metres-cubed or litres in chemistry?

Generally, is it better to work in metres-cubed or litres in chemistry? My undergraduate degree was in civil engineering and we always worked in $\mathrm{m^3}$. However, I notice the gas constant $R$ is used in a few different…
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