The Mathematics of Chemistry Significant Figures

Uncertainty in Measurement Measurements always have uncertainty. Significant figures are the number of digits that are certain (can be measured) and the first uncertain digit.

Accuracy and Precision Accuracy refers to how closely a measurement agrees with the accepted or true value. Precision refers to reproducibility of measurements. Chemistry calculations utilize significant figures to communicate uncertainty.

Rules for Significant Figures: 1.Non-zero digits and zeros between non-zero digits are always significant. 2. Leading zeros are not significant. 3. Zeros to the right of all non-zero digits are only significant if a decimal point is shown.

Rules for Significant Figures: 4.For values written in scientific notation, the digits are only significant if a decimal point is shown. 5.In a common logarithm, there are as many digits after the decimal point as there are significant figures in the original number.

Rules for Finding Significant Figures Rule #1- Non-zero digits and zeros between non-zero digits are always significant

Rules for Finding Significant Figures Rule #1- Non-zero digits and zeros between non-zero digits are always significant

Rules for Finding Significant Figures Rule #2 - Zeros to the right of all non- zero digits are only significant if a decimal point is shown

Rules for Finding Significant Figures These zeros are not significant. There is not a rule that supports counting them

How many significant figures? Rule #3

How many significant figures? Rule #1

How many significant figures? Rules # 1 and 3

How many significant figures? Rule #3

How many significant figures? Rule #3

How many significant figures? Rule #2

How many significant figures? Rule # 3

Using Significant Figures when Adding and Subtracting in Calculations 1.Determine the number of significant figures in the decimal portion of each of the numbers in the problem. 2. Add or subtract the numbers. 3.Round the answer to match the least number of places in the decimal portion of any number in the problem.

Using Significant Figures when Adding and Subtracting Give it a try! Add 0.03 g of NaCl to 155 g of water. What is the total mass? Answer: 155 g because the mass of water has no decimal places, so the final answer must be written with no decimal places.

Using Significant Figures when Adding and Subtracting g g 0.18g 4.20g The least amount of significant figures to the right of the decimal in the numbers is 2; therefore, the answer should only have 2 significant figures to the right of the decimal g

Using Significant Figures when Multiplying and Dividing Determine how many significant figures each numbers being multiplied or divided has, and note which number has the fewest. Complete the calculation. Write the answer using the same number of significant figures as the least number of significant figures found in the numbers used in the calculation.

Using Significant Figures when Multiplying and Dividing 28.3 cm X 5.0 cm = ____cm has 3 significant figures, and 5.0 has 2 significant figures; therefore, the answer should be written 140, so that it only has 2 significant figures. 140 cm 2

Try it! g of aluminum hydroxide multiplied by 5.2 g equals how many grams? g X 5.2 g = _____ g Rule: Write the answer using the same number of significant figures as the least number of significant figures found in the numbers used in the calculation.

Scientific Notation Expanded Notation A moles B moles C.259, grams D.100,000 milliliters Scientific Notation A.2.63 X moles B.1.90 X moles C X 10 5 grams D.1 X 10 5 milliliters