Question

Which weighs more, \(4.25 \mathrm{~g}\) of gold or \(425 \mathrm{mg}\) of gold?

Short answer

The first amount weighs more, as \(4.25 \mathrm{~g}\) of gold is greater than \(0.425 \mathrm{~g}\) of gold, which is the converted weight of the second amount from milligrams to grams.

Step-by-step solution

Convert the second amount from milligrams to grams

To convert from milligrams to grams, we simply divide the amount by 1000 as: \[\frac{425\mathrm{~mg}}{1000}\text{,}\] since 1 gram equals to 1000 milligrams.

Perform the division

Divide 425 by 1000: \[\frac{425}{1000} = 0.425\mathrm{~g}\]

Compare the two amounts of gold

Now that both amounts are in grams, we can easily compare them: - The first amount is \(4.25 \mathrm{~g}\) of gold. - The second amount is \(0.425 \mathrm{~g}\) of gold, after converting from milligrams to grams.

Determine which amount weighs more

Since \(4.25 \mathrm{~g} > 0.425 \mathrm{~g}\), the first amount weighs more than the second amount. Therefore, \(4.25 \mathrm{~g}\) of gold weighs more than \(425 \mathrm{~mg}\) of gold.

Key concepts

Measurement Units in Chemistry

Understanding measurement units is crucial when studying chemistry, as it ensures precision and standardization in experiments. In chemistry, we deal with various units for measuring mass, volume, concentration, and more.

Mass is commonly measured in grams (g) or milligrams (mg), with grams being a base unit in the metric system. For smaller quantities, milligrams are used, reflecting the intricate precision required in chemical analyses. Apart from grams, scientists also use moles to quantify the amount of a substance based on the number of particles, which is essential for understanding chemical reactions.

Familiarity with these measurement units allows chemists to communicate findings uniformly, compare results, and precisely replicate experiments.

Converting Milligrams to Grams

Converting milligrams to grams is a fundamental skill in chemistry, enabling the comparison of measurements in different units. As indicated by the prefix 'milli-', a milligram is one-thousandth of a gram. The conversion between these units is straightforward: \
\[\begin{equation}1\,\text{mg} = \frac{1}{1000}\,\text{g} \end{equation}\]\
This means that to convert milligrams to grams, you divide the number of milligrams by 1000. For example, to convert 425 mg to grams: \
\[\begin{equation}\frac{425\,\text{mg}}{1000} = 0.425\,\text{g} \end{equation}\]\
Understanding this conversion is essential for accurately measuring substances and is a daily task in any chemistry laboratory.

Comparing Weights in Chemistry

Comparing weights in chemistry involves an understanding of both the measurement units and the conversion between them. Accurate comparison is essential when determining concentrations, calculating yields, or comparing the mass of reactants and products in chemical reactions.

By converting all quantities to the same unit, such as grams, chemists can avoid errors and make meaningful comparisons. For example, when comparing 4.25 g of gold to 425 mg of gold, converting the milligrams to grams makes it evident that 4.25 g is greater than 0.425 g. Therefore, the weight of 4.25 g of gold is more significant. Such comparisons are integral to making precise calculations and decisions in both academic and industrial chemistry applications.