Dimensional Analysis in Chemistry Textbooks 1900-2020 and an Algebraic Alternative
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Abstract
The chapter on units and measurements is practically indispensable in modern chemistry textbooks, and within it, the factor-label method has become synonymous with dimensional analysis. In this paper, we aim to investigate whether this necessity has been consistent throughout the history of general chemistry textbooks. We will also demonstrate that equating the concept of dimensional analysis with the factor-label technique is incorrect, as an algebraic alternative exists. To determine the relationship of the units and measurements chapter with the textbook, we examined 140 books from the 1900s to the present day, finding that this chapter and its algorithms were gradually introduced during the transition from the 1950s to the 1970s, accompanied by other fundamental changes in the texts. Additionally, we present an alternative to the factor-label method, called algebraic substitution, which offers a greater diversity of techniques to expedite specific calculations. However, mastering all these techniques requires time and skill. This shows that the factor-label method is not the only option for performing dimensional analysis. Therefore, we must not confuse a technique or algorithm with the underlying philosophical foundation of dimensional analysis.
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