🚿 Chemistry by Chang – Problem 1.43 | Estimation of Water Consumption | Steemit Science

Hello Steemit science community! 👋💧

This problem comes from Raymond Chang’s Chemistry (14th Edition), in Chapter 1: Measurement and the Properties of Matter.
It focuses on estimation, a powerful scientific skill used when exact data are unavailable but reasonable assumptions can lead to meaningful results.


🔹 Problem 1.43:

Estimate the daily amount of water (in gallons) used indoors by a family of four in the United States.


Rather than relying on precise measurements, this problem encourages logical reasoning and order-of-magnitude thinking.
To approach it, one might consider typical daily activities such as:

  • Showering 🚿
  • Toilet use 🚽
  • Handwashing and brushing teeth 🧼
  • Cooking and dishwashing 🍽️
  • Laundry 👕

Estimation problems like this are widely used in chemistry, environmental science, and engineering to quickly assess resource usage and potential impacts.


📸 Here’s my complete estimation process and reasoning:

Captura desde 2025-12-15 22-36-01.png


Water consumption is a critical issue worldwide 🌍💦
Do you think most people are aware of how much water they actually use each day? Let’s discuss in the comments!

Follow me for more chemistry problems, real-world estimations, and scientific thinking from Chang’s Chemistry.