Significant Figures
Chemistry
Introduction: Important Vocab
● Measurements: A quantity that has a number and a unit
● Accuracy: How close a measurement is to a target
● Precision: How consistent the measurements are.
Significant Figures: (Sig figs) in a measurement include all digits that are known
- Measurement cannot be more precise than your LEAST precise measurement
- Can not use two types of rulers (must make sure method of measurement is the same)
6 Rules for Significant Figures:
● Non-zero numbers ARE significant (No zeros in the number)
○ “123” has 3 sig figs
● Sandwiched zeros ARE significant
○ “101” has 3 sig figs; “1000001” has 7 sig figs
● Leading Zeros ARE NOT Significant
○ “0.01” has one sig fig
● Trailing Zeros WITH decimals ARE Significant
○ “1.0” has 2 sig figs; “5.5000” has 5 sig figs
● Trailing Zeros W/O Decimals ARE NOT significant
○ “1000” has 1 sig fig; “54320” has 4 sig figs
● When using scientific notation, ignore the “Times 10 to the 3rd”
○ “3.201 x 10^9” has 4 Sig Figs
Chemistry
Introduction: Important Vocab
● Measurements: A quantity that has a number and a unit
● Accuracy: How close a measurement is to a target
● Precision: How consistent the measurements are.
Significant Figures: (Sig figs) in a measurement include all digits that are known
- Measurement cannot be more precise than your LEAST precise measurement
- Can not use two types of rulers (must make sure method of measurement is the same)
6 Rules for Significant Figures:
● Non-zero numbers ARE significant (No zeros in the number)
○ “123” has 3 sig figs
● Sandwiched zeros ARE significant
○ “101” has 3 sig figs; “1000001” has 7 sig figs
● Leading Zeros ARE NOT Significant
○ “0.01” has one sig fig
● Trailing Zeros WITH decimals ARE Significant
○ “1.0” has 2 sig figs; “5.5000” has 5 sig figs
● Trailing Zeros W/O Decimals ARE NOT significant
○ “1000” has 1 sig fig; “54320” has 4 sig figs
● When using scientific notation, ignore the “Times 10 to the 3rd”
○ “3.201 x 10^9” has 4 Sig Figs
