The study of science could not be precise without a suitable system of measurement. The English system, which we use in our daily activities, prevents many disadvantages in scientific measurement. It is a system which, in a sense, just grew up. Its chief disadvantage is that there are no simple numerical relationships between the different units.

The metric system was developed in France near the end of the eighteenth century. it is used in scientific work throughout the world and is in general use in practically all countries except the U.S. Certain industries in the U.S. that participate in foreign markets have already adopted the metric system in order to remain competitive in those markets. The Metric Conversion Act of 1975 formally committed our country to a change from the English to the metric system of measurement.

The metric system is a decimal system that has simple numerical relationships between units. There are essentially five things which we measure: length, volume, mass, temperature, and time.

LENGTH: The basic measurement of length is the meter (m) defined as: l. the distance between two parallel lines engraved on a platinum-iridium preserved at the International Bureau of Weights and Measures near Paris; or, 2. 1,650,763,73 times the wavelength of the orange-red spectral line of light emitted from excited atoms of krypton-86 (an isotope).

VOLUME: The basic measurement of volume is the liter (L) defined as the volume occupied by one kilogram of water at 4 degrees Celsius.

MASS: The basic measurement of mass is the gram (g) defined as: 1. the mass occupied by one milliliter (or one cubic centimeter) or water at 4 degrees Celsius; or, 2. one thousandth of the standard kilogram resting in the International Bureau of Weights and Measures.

TEMPERATURE: Anders Celsius established the scale for measuring temperature, which now carries his name, by defining the freezing point of water as 0 degrees and the boiling point of water as 100 degrees. The interval between these two points is divided into 100 equal parts, each representing a temperature change of one Celsius degree.

TIME: The basic unit of measuring time is the second.

AMOUNT OF SUBSTANCE: The unit of measuring numbers of particles is the mole (mol).

One mole is 6.02 x 10²³ particles.

Because the metric system is a decimal system, fractions are never used. To change the magnitude of each dimension, a series of Latin and Greek prefixes are used. The most commonly used prefixes are:

Using water at 4 degrees C as a standard, the relationships in the metric system are very simple: one liter of water has a volume of 1000 cc and a mass of 1 kg.

INCLUDE THE PROPER UNIT OF MEASUREMENT ON ALL ANSWERS!!!