Mathemetical Skills in
Chemistry
📚 Mathematical Skills in Chemistry
These skills fall under a few key categories:
🧮 I. Scientific Notation
Used to express very large or very small numbers compactly.
Example:
602000000000000000000000 → 6.02×10236.02 \times 10^{23} (Avogadro’s
number)
Rules:
Move the decimal point to get a number between 1 and 10.
Count the moves:
o Left = positive exponent
o Right = negative exponent
📏 II. Significant Figures (Sig Figs)
Used to show precision in measurements.
Rules:
1. Non-zero digits are always significant.
2. Zeros between non-zero digits are significant.
3. Leading zeros are not significant.
4. Trailing zeros are only significant after a decimal point.
Example:
0.00450 → 3 sig figs (4, 5, and trailing 0)
1200 → 2 sig figs (unless written as 1.2 × 10³)
➗ III. Unit Conversions
Chemistry
📚 Mathematical Skills in Chemistry
These skills fall under a few key categories:
🧮 I. Scientific Notation
Used to express very large or very small numbers compactly.
Example:
602000000000000000000000 → 6.02×10236.02 \times 10^{23} (Avogadro’s
number)
Rules:
Move the decimal point to get a number between 1 and 10.
Count the moves:
o Left = positive exponent
o Right = negative exponent
📏 II. Significant Figures (Sig Figs)
Used to show precision in measurements.
Rules:
1. Non-zero digits are always significant.
2. Zeros between non-zero digits are significant.
3. Leading zeros are not significant.
4. Trailing zeros are only significant after a decimal point.
Example:
0.00450 → 3 sig figs (4, 5, and trailing 0)
1200 → 2 sig figs (unless written as 1.2 × 10³)
➗ III. Unit Conversions
