Changing Units
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Changing Units
I was wondering if the question gave us the initial volume in mL and asked us to solve for the final volume would we give the answer in L or mL, or does it matter?
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Re: Changing Units
I think in class, he said you could use either. However, sometimes it makes more sense to use one instead of the other. For example, when you're doing an experiment, you would normally measure 16.2 mL rather than 0.0162 L. Both answers would be correct though.
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- Posts: 60
- Joined: Fri Sep 28, 2018 12:24 am
Re: Changing Units
It depends on the units being asked for in the original question. However, if the answer itself is correct the units should not matter, unless the question has asked for the answer to be in mL or L.
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Re: Changing Units
I think in class he said you should convert to L when using a formula that uses L and then you can choose to convert again at the end of the problem depending on what the question is asking for.
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Re: Changing Units
Typically your answer should be in the same units that it was given in the problem unless stated otherwise but Lavelle is okay with either as long as it's the right answer.
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Re: Changing Units
As long as your final answer is in the correct units the problem asks for, and you're able to cancel out the extra ones properly you should be fine!
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Re: Changing Units
If the units are specified in the question, you should use that unit but otherwise, I think Professor said you could do either!
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Re: Changing Units
When doing molarity questions - you have to do all the calculations in Liters because Molarity is moles/Liters. So, it wouldn't make sense to use mL when molarity uses Liters, in other words, the units would not cancel and you would get an incorrect answer.
After the problem is solved, however, it could make sense to write the answer in mL because that is often the unit used while actually in the lab.
After the problem is solved, however, it could make sense to write the answer in mL because that is often the unit used while actually in the lab.
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Re: Changing Units
In terms of the problem-solving process, I would always use standard SI units (L) to make sure your calculations are correct. You can leave your answers in standard SI units, but you could also convert them to match the given units in the problem, as long as the answer is correct!
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