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Significant Figures
Convey useful information in a measurement Gives you an idea of the precision of the measurement Includes all known digits plus one estimated digit

Example
If you have a scale that reads

between 2.4 and 2.5 pounds

You can estimate that an

Chemistry Chapter 3

object weighs 2.46 pounds

6 is estimated, but still useful Tells you it is near the middle of 2.4 and 2.5 pounds (not closer to 2.4 or 2.5)

Rules for determining significant figures

1. Every nonzero digit is significant Ex: 24.7, 0.743, 714

Rules for determining significant figures

1. Every nonzero digit is significant Ex: 24.7, 0.743, 714

Rules for determining significant figures

1. Every nonzero digit is significant Ex: 24.7, 0.743, 714

All have 3 significant figures

All have 3 significant figures

2. Zeroes between nonzero digits are significant Ex: 7003, 40.79, 1.503

Rules for determining significant figures

1. Every nonzero digit is significant Ex: 24.7, 0.743, 714

Rules for determining significant figures

3. Leftmost zeroes in front of nonzero digits are not

Rules for determining significant figures

3. Leftmost zeroes in front of nonzero digits are not

significant: they are placeholders

Ex: 0.0071, 0.42, 0.000099

significant: they are placeholders

Ex: 0.0071, 0.42, 0.000099

All have 3 significant figures

2. Zeroes between nonzero digits are significant Ex: 7003, 40.79, 1.503

All have 2 sig figs

All have 4 significant figures

3. Leftmost zeroes in front of nonzero digits are not

significant: they are placeholders

Ex: 0.0071, 0.42, 0.000099

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Rules for determining significant figures

3. Leftmost zeroes in front of nonzero digits are not

Rules for determining significant figures

4. Zeroes at the end of a number to the right of a

Rules for determining significant figures

4. Zeroes at the end of a number to the right of a

significant: they are placeholders

Ex: 0.0071, 0.42, 0.000099

decimal point are significant

Ex: 43.00, 1.010, 9.000

decimal point are significant

Ex: 43.00, 1.010, 9.000

All have 2 sig figs

All have 4 sig figs

Using scientific notation can eliminate placeholder

zeroes

Ex: 7.1x10-3, 4.2x10-1, 9.9x10-5

Rules for determining significant figures

4. Zeroes at the end of a number to the right of a

Rules for determining significant figures

5. Zeroes at the end of a number to the left of an

Rules for determining significant figures

5. Zeroes at the end of a number to the left of an

decimal point are significant

Ex: 43.00, 1.010, 9.000

understood decimal are not significant if they serve as placeholders to show the magnitude of the number
Ex: 300, 7000, 50000

understood decimal are not significant if they serve as placeholders to show the magnitude of the number
Ex: 300, 7000, 50000

All have 4 sig figs

Each has one sig fig

Rules for determining significant figures

5. Zeroes at the end of a number to the left of an

Practice
123m 0.05730 9.8000 x 104m 8765 0.07080m 0.00073 40,506mm 40.007 98,000

Practice
123m 3 sig figs 0.05730 9.8000 x 104m 8765 0.07080m 0.00073 40,506mm 40.007 98,000

understood decimal are not significant if they serve as placeholders to show the magnitude of the number
Ex: 300, 7000, 50000

Each has one sig fig

If the zeroes are significant, write the number in

scientific notation

Ex: 3.00x102

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Practice
123m 3 sig figs 0.05730 4 sig figs 9.8000 x 104m 8765 0.07080m 0.00073 40,506mm 40.007 98,000

Practice
123m 3 sig figs 0.05730 4 sig figs 9.8000 x 104m 5 sig figs 8765 0.07080m 0.00073 40,506mm 40.007 98,000

Practice
123m 3 sig figs 0.05730 4 sig figs 9.8000 x 104m 5 sig figs 8765 4 sig figs 0.07080m 0.00073 40,506mm 40.007 98,000

Practice
123m 3 sig figs 0.05730 4 sig figs 9.8000 x 104m 5 sig figs 8765 4 sig figs 0.07080m 4 sig figs 0.00073 40,506mm 40.007 98,000

Practice
123m 3 sig figs 0.05730 4 sig figs 9.8000 x 104m 5 sig figs 8765 4 sig figs 0.07080m 4 sig figs 0.00073 2 sig figs 40,506mm 40.007 98,000

Practice
123m 3 sig figs 0.05730 4 sig figs 9.8000 x 104m 5 sig figs 8765 4 sig figs 0.07080m 4 sig figs 0.00073 2 sig figs 40,506mm 5 sig figs 40.007 98,000

Practice
123m 3 sig figs 0.05730 4 sig figs 9.8000 x 104m 5 sig figs 8765 4 sig figs 0.07080m 4 sig figs 0.00073 2 sig figs 40,506mm 5 sig figs 40.007 5 sig figs 98,000

Practice
123m 3 sig figs 0.05730 4 sig figs 9.8000 x 104m 5 sig figs 8765 4 sig figs 0.07080m 4 sig figs 0.00073 2 sig figs 40,506mm 5 sig figs 40.007 5 sig figs 98,000 2 sig figs

Sig Figs in Calculations

A calculated answer cannot be more precise than the

least precise measurement from which it was calculated

Numbers must be rounded to maintain the correct

number of sig figs

5 and up: round up

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Practice rounding
314.721 rounded to 4 sig figs

Practice rounding
314.721 rounded to 4 sig figs 314.7 or 3.147x102 0.001775 rounded to 2 sig figs

Practice rounding
314.721 rounded to 4 sig figs 314.7 or 3.147x102 0.001775 rounded to 2 sig figs 0.0018 or 1.8x10-3 8792 rounded to 2 sig figs

Practice rounding
314.721 rounded to 4 sig figs 314.7 or 3.147x102 0.001775 rounded to 2 sig figs 0.0018 or 1.8x10-3 8792 rounded to 2 sig figs 8800 or 8.8x103

When adding/subtracting
Round calculation to the same number of decimal

Practice
Find the total mass of 4 stones with the following

places as the measurement with the least number of decimal places Ex: 12.52 + 349.0 + 8.24 = 369.76
Round to 369.8

masses: 10.32 g, 11.81 g, 124.678 g, and 0.9129 g

Practice
Find the total mass of 4 stones with the following

When multiplying/dividing
Round answer to same number of significant figures as

Practice
What is the area of a rectangle that measures 8.3

masses: 10.32 g, 11.81 g, 124.678 g, and 0.9129 g

147.72 g

the measurement with the least number of sig figs

Position of decimal doesnt matter Ex: 7.55 x 0.34 = 2.567 Round to 2.6

meters by 2.076 meters?

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Practice
What is the area of a rectangle that measures 8.3

Quick Lab time!

Do the Accuracy and Precision Quick Lab on page 72

meters by 2.076 meters?

17 meters squared

in your Chemistry book

You will turn this in for a grade, so write your answers on

a separate sheet of paper