What is Dimensional Analysis? Sound scary. Well it's not all that bad. Dimensional Analysis is a mathematical system using conversion factors to move from one unit of measurement to a different unit of measurement.
For example, if you need to calculate how many seconds are in a day, you can use dimensional analysis to set all of your needed conversions into one problem.
Dimensional Analysis is both very helpful in Science and as well as in Math. The work I have shown below is some notes and examples I did during class in Chem.
When do you use Dimensional Analysis in Chemistry?
Conversion factors and dimensional analysis make comparing different units much easier. These conversions are necessary in many calculations in Chemistry.
Equations in physics problems may require calculations using derived units. Derived units are those that contain two separate measurement units that are used as one. Example: The unit for force is a newton (N). A newton is equal to 1 kilogram x meter/second .
Calculations in chemistry require comparisons of measurements of material in solid, liquid, and gas form. Dimensional analysis makes these comparisons easier by placing all known measurements into an equation that you have to work out like the ones written below.