Q38E - Chemistry (OpenStax)

Question

Give the name and symbol of the prefixes used with SI units to indicate multiplication by the following exact quantities.

a. 10³

b. 10^-2

c. 0.1

d. 10^-3

e. 1,000,000

f. 0.000001

Step-by-Step Solution

Answer

a) 10³ = Kilo

b) 10^-2 = centi

c) 0.1 = deci

d) 10^-3 =mili

e) 1,000,000 = 10⁶ = mega 

f) 0.000001 = 10^-6 = micro 

Step 1: Determine the definition of base units.

A base unit is defined arbitrarily and not by combinations of other units. In contrast, a derived unit is a SI unit of measurement composed of a combination of the seven base units (Kg, m, s, A, K, mol, cd).

Step 2: Name and symbol of the prefixes used with SI unit

a) 10³ = Kilo (Kilogram = 10³ grams, kilometre = 10³ meters)

Symbol – K

b) 10^-2 = centi (it is the 100^th part of a unit, like a centimeter or a centigram)

Symbol – c

c) 0.1 = deci (it is the tenth part of a unit: decimetre, decigram)

Symbol – d

d) 10^-3 =mili (the 1000^th part of a unit: millimeter, milligram). The name comes from the word used in Latin to mean “one thousand.”

Symbol – m 

e) 1,000,000 = 10⁶ = mega (megawatt) 

Symbol – M

f) 0.000001 = 10^-6 = micro (micrometer, microsecond)

Symbol - μ