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Quantifying the Infinitesimal

Understanding the language of trace amounts and relative measurements in science and engineering.

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Introduction

Defining Parts-per Notation

In the rigorous domains of science and engineering, the parts-per notation serves as a standardized framework for expressing exceedingly small dimensionless quantities. These notations are crucial for quantifying minute concentrations, ratios, or proportions, such as mole fractions or mass fractions, where absolute values are impractical or lack context.[a] As these are essentially quantity-per-quantity measures, they are inherently pure numbers, devoid of specific units of measurement.

Common Notations

Several common parts-per notations are widely employed:

  • Parts-per-million (ppm): Represents 10โˆ’6, or one part in a million.
  • Parts-per-billion (ppb): Represents 10โˆ’9, or one part in a billion.
  • Parts-per-trillion (ppt): Represents 10โˆ’12, or one part in a trillion.
  • Parts-per-quadrillion (ppq): Represents 10โˆ’15, or one part in a quadrillion.

It is imperative to note that this notation system is not formally integrated into the International System of Units (SI) and can sometimes lead to ambiguity.

Visualizing Dilution

Consider the visual representation of fluorescein solutions. As concentrations decrease through ten-fold dilutions, the vibrant yellow color of a 1 ppm solution becomes progressively fainter, transitioning from orange to deep red at 10,000 ppm. This illustrates how parts-per notation effectively describes minute quantities relative to a whole.

Applications Across Disciplines

Environmental Science

In environmental monitoring, parts-per notation is indispensable for describing the concentration of dissolved substances in water, such as minerals or pollutants. For instance, "1 ppm" might signify one-millionth of a gram of a pollutant per gram of water sample. Given the density of water is approximately 1 g/mL, this often translates to 1 milligram per liter (mg/L).

Physics and Engineering

These notations are also prevalent in physics and engineering. For example, the thermal expansion of a metal alloy might be expressed as 1.2 micrometers per meter per degree Celsius, denoted as 1.2 ppm/ยฐC. Similarly, the precision of measurement instruments, like a laser rangefinder with an accuracy of 1 millimeter per kilometer, is effectively communicated as 1 ppm.

Analytical Chemistry

In fields like nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy, chemical shifts are commonly reported in ppm. This unit provides a field-strength-independent measure, representing the difference in frequency relative to a reference standard, typically expressed in Hertz (Hz) divided by the spectrometer's operating frequency in Megahertz (MHz).

Understanding Parts-per Expressions

Relative Proportions

Parts-per notations fundamentally represent relative proportions. Whether expressed as mass fraction, mole fraction, or volume fraction, the underlying principle is a ratio where units cancel out, resulting in a dimensionless coefficient. For instance, 2 nanometers per meter (2 nm/m) simplifies to 2 x 10โˆ’9, equivalent to 2 ppb.

The following table illustrates the relationships between various parts-per expressions:

Parts-per Equivalencies
1 of โ†’
= โ†ง
of โ†“
per
cent
(%)
per
mille
(โ€ฐ)
per
10,000
(โ€ฑ)
per
100,000
(pcm)
per
million
(ppm)
per
billion
(ppb)
% 1 0.1 0.01 0.001 0.0001 10โˆ’7
โ€ฐ 10 1 0.1 0.01 0.001 10โˆ’6
โ€ฑ 100 10 1 0.1 0.01 10โˆ’5
pcm 1,000 100 10 1 0.1 10โˆ’4
ppm 10,000 1,000 100 10 1 0.001
ppb 107 106 105 10,000 1,000 1

Note: The table uses the short scale for 'billion' (109) and 'trillion' (1012).

Temporal and Spatial Equivalents

These notations can be contextualized with temporal or spatial equivalents to aid comprehension:

  • One percent (%) is roughly equivalent to fourteen minutes out of a day.
  • One part per thousand (โ€ฐ) is approximately ninety seconds out of a day.
  • One part per ten thousand (โ€ฑ) equates to about nine seconds out of a day.
  • One part per hundred thousand (pcm) is roughly five minutes out of a year, or 1 cm of error per km.
  • One part per million (ppm) is approximately 32 seconds out of a year, or 1 mm of error per km.
  • One part per billion (ppb) is equivalent to about three seconds out of a century.
  • One part per trillion (ppt) represents about thirty seconds over a million years.
  • One part per quadrillion (ppq) is approximately two and a half minutes over the age of the Earth.

Critiques and Ambiguities

Lack of Formal SI Integration

While the International Bureau of Weights and Measures (BIPM) acknowledges parts-per notation, it is not formally part of the SI. The BIPM and ISO permit the use of the percent symbol (%) with SI for dimensionless quantities, but the usage of ppb and ppt is discouraged due to potential confusion arising from differing interpretations of "billion" and "trillion" across language scales (long vs. short scales).[BIPM-2]

Thousand vs. Trillion Confusion

A significant point of contention is the potential ambiguity of "ppt". While predominantly understood as "parts per trillion," it is occasionally misused to mean "parts per thousand." Context is therefore crucial for accurate interpretation, necessitating explicit definition in technical communication.[citation needed]

Mass, Mole, or Volume?

Another critical issue is the lack of specificity regarding the type of fraction being represented. Parts-per notation can refer to mass fraction (e.g., mg/kg), mole fraction (mol/mol), or volume fraction (e.g., ยตL/L). Without explicit clarification (e.g., using suffixes like 'w' for weight or 'v' for volume, or stating units like kg/kg), misinterpretation is highly probable, particularly in fields like atmospheric chemistry where these distinctions are significant.[9]

SI-Compliant Alternatives

Preferred Expressions

To mitigate ambiguity, SI-compliant expressions are recommended. These explicitly state the ratio of units, ensuring clarity. For example, a strain of 1 micrometer per meter (1 ยตm/m) is unambiguously 1 ppm. Similarly, a mass fraction of 2 milligrams per kilogram (2 mg/kg) is clearly 2 ppm.

The following table contrasts parts-per notations with their SI-compliant counterparts:

SI-Compliant Expressions for Dimensionless Quantities
Measure Example SI Units Parts-per Notation Value (Scientific Notation)
A strain of... 2 cm/m 2% 2 ร— 10โˆ’2
A sensitivity of... 2 mV/V 2 โ€ฐ (Discouraged) 2 ร— 10โˆ’3
A sensitivity of... 0.2 mV/V 2 โ€ฑ (Discouraged) 2 ร— 10โˆ’4
A sensitivity of... 2 ยตV/V 2 ppm 2 ร— 10โˆ’6
A sensitivity of... 2 nV/V 2 ppb (Discouraged) 2 ร— 10โˆ’9
A sensitivity of... 2 pV/V 2 ppt (Discouraged) 2 ร— 10โˆ’12
A mass fraction of... 2 mg/kg 2 ppm 2 ร— 10โˆ’6
A mass fraction of... 2 ยตg/kg 2 ppb (Discouraged) 2 ร— 10โˆ’9
A mass fraction of... 2 ng/kg 2 ppt (Discouraged) 2 ร— 10โˆ’12
A mass fraction of... 2 pg/kg 2 ppq (Discouraged) 2 ร— 10โˆ’15
A volume fraction of... 5.2 ยตL/L 5.2 ppm 5.2 ร— 10โˆ’6
A mole fraction of... 5.24 ยตmol/mol 5.24 ppm 5.24 ร— 10โˆ’6
A stability of... 1 (ยตA/A)/min 1 ppm/min 1 ร— 10โˆ’6/min
A change of... 5 nฮฉ/ฮฉ 5 ppb (Discouraged) 5 ร— 10โˆ’9
An uncertainty of... 9 ยตg/kg 9 ppb (Discouraged) 9 ร— 10โˆ’9
A shift of... 1 nm/m 1 ppb (Discouraged) 1 ร— 10โˆ’9
A strain of... 1 ยตm/m 1 ppm 1 ร— 10โˆ’6
A temperature coefficient of... 0.3 (ยตHz/Hz)/ยฐC 0.3 ppm/ยฐC 0.3 ร— 10โˆ’6/ยฐC

Note: Entries marked "(Discouraged)" highlight notations that the BIPM advises against using due to potential ambiguity.

Clarity in Communication

While parts-per notations remain prevalent due to their convenience, especially in established fields, the scientific community increasingly emphasizes the use of explicit SI units (e.g., mg/kg, mol/mol, mยณ/mยณ) or clearly defined parts-per expressions to ensure precision and avoid misinterpretation across different disciplines and international contexts.

Proposed Units: The "Uno"

A Novel Concept

Recognizing the challenges associated with expressing dimensionless quantities, the International Union of Pure and Applied Physics (IUPAP) proposed the adoption of a special name, "uno" (symbol: U), in 1999. This unit was intended to represent the numerical value '1' for dimensionless quantities, simplifying expressions that currently rely on parts-per notation or explicit unit ratios.

Limited Adoption

Despite the proposal's intent to streamline scientific communication, the "uno" unit faced significant resistance. A subsequent report to the International Committee for Weights and Measures (CIPM) indicated overwhelmingly negative responses, leading to the recommendation to abandon the idea. Consequently, the "uno" has not been adopted by any major standards organization and remains largely a theoretical concept.

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References

References

  1.  NIST: Rules and Style Conventions for Expressing Values of Quantities: 7.10.3 ppm, ppb, and ppt.
A full list of references for this article are available at the Parts-per notation Wikipedia page

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