INCHEM

211

Department of Chemical Engineering

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 MODULE 2:
MEASUREMENTS IN CHEMISTRY

UNIT FOUR – SIGNIFICANT FIGURES

ENGAGE ENGAGE ENGAGE ENGAGE ENGAGE ENGAGE

INTRODUCTION
Suppose you weigh a dime on a balance capable of measuring to the
nearest 0.0001 g. You could report the mass as 2.2405 0.0001 g. The notation
(read “plus or minus”) is a useful way to express the uncertainty of a
measurement.

In much scientific work we drop the notation with the understanding

that an uncertainty of at least one unit exists in the last digit of the measured
quantity. That is, measured quantities are generally reported in such a way that
only the last digit is uncertain. All digits, including the uncertain one, are called
significant figures. The number 2.2405 has five significant figures. The number of
significant figures dictates the exactness of a measurement.

To understand further, let’s read the sample problem below:

What is the difference between 4.0 and 4.00 g?

ANSWER: Many people would say there is no difference, but

a scientist would note the difference in the number of significant
figures in the two measurements. The value 4.0 has two significant
figures, while 4.00 has three.

This implies that the second measurement is more precise. A

mass of 4.0 indicates that the mass is between 3.9 and 4.1 g; the
mass is 4.0 0.1 g. A measurement of 4.00 g implies that the mass
is between 3.99 and 4.01 g; the mass is 4.00 0.01 g.

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 EXPLORE EXPLORE EXPLORE EXPLORE EXPLORE EXPLORE

GUIDELINES FOR DETERMINING THE NUMBER OF SIGNIFICANT FIGURES:

The following guidelines apply to determining the number of significant

figures in a measured quantity:

1. Nonzero digits are always significant.

Ex. 457 cm – 3 significant figures

2.5 g – 2 significant figures

2. Zeros between nonzero digits are always significant.

Ex. 1005 kg – 4 significant figures

1.03 cm – 3 significant figures

3. Zeros at the beginning of a number are never significant; they merely indicate
the position of the decimal point.

Ex. 0.02 g – 1 significant figure

0.0026 – 2 significant figures

4. Zeros that fall both at the end of a number and after the decimal point are
always significant.

Ex. 0.0200 g – 3 significant figures

3.0 – 2 significant figures

5. When a number ends in zeros but contains no decimal point, the zeros may or
may not be significant.

Ex. 130 cm – 2 or 3 significant figures

10 300 g 3, 4 or 5 significant figures

The use of exponential notation avoids the potential ambiguity of whether

the zeros at the end of a number are significant (rule 5). For example, a mass of
10 300 g can be written in scientific notation showing three, four or five
significant figures:

1.03 x 104 g Three significant figures

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 1.030 x 104 g Four significant figures
1.0300 x 104 g Five significant figures

In these numbers, all the zeros to the right of the decimal point are
significant (rules 2 and 4). (All significant figures come before the exponent; the
exponential term does not add to the number of significant figures.)

EXERCISE NO. 1

How many significant figures are in each of the following numbers

(assume that each number is a measured quantity)?

a.) 4.003 d.) 3.549 g

b.) 6.023 x 1023 e.) 2.3 x 104 cm
c.) 5000 f.) 0.00134 m3

EXPLAIN EXPLAIN EXPLAIN EXPLAIN EXPLAIN EXPLAIN

SIGNIFICANT FIGURES IN CALCULATIONS

In carrying measured quantities through calculations, observe this point:
The precision of the result is limited by the precision of the measurements. Thus,
you can’t get exact calculations using inexact data. To keep track of significant
figures in calculations, we will make frequent use of two rules.

The first involves multiplication and division, and the second involves
addition and subtraction. In multiplication and division the result must be
reported with the same number of significant figures as the measurement with
the fewest significant figures. When the result contains more than the correct
number of significant figures, it must be rounded off.

For example, the area of a rectangle whose edge lengths are 6.221 cm
and 5.2 cm should be reported as 32 cm2.

Area = 6.221 cm 5.2 cm = 32.3492 cm2 → rounded of to 32 cm2

We round off to two significant figures because the least precise number –
5.2 cm – has only two significant figures.

In rounding off numbers, look at the leftmost digit to be dropped:

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 1. If the leftmost digit to be removed is less than 5, the preceding number is left
unchanged. Thus, rounding 7.248 to two significant figures gives 7.2.

2. If the leftmost digit to be removed is 5 or greater, the preceding number is

increased by 1. Rounding 4.735 to three significant figures gives 4.74, and
rounding 2.376 to two significant figures gives 2.4.

The guidelines used to determine the number of significant figures in

addition and subtraction are different from those for multiplication and division.
In addition and subtraction the result cannot have more digits to the right of the
decimal point than any of the original numbers.

This number limits 20.4 one decimal place

the number of 1.322 three decimal places
significant figures + 83 zero decimal places
in the result 104.722 → round off to 105 (one uncertain digit)

EXERCISE NO. 2

Solve the following equations using the correct number of significant figures:
1.) 34.683 – 58.930 + 68.35112
2.) 45001 – 56.355 – 78.44
3.) 0.003 + 3.5198 + 0.0118
4.) 36.01 – 0.4 – 15
5.) 98.1 x 0.03
6.) 57 x 7.368
7.) 8.578 / 4.33821
8.) 6.90 / 2.8952

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 ELABORATE ELABORATE ELABORATE ELABORATE

Formative Assessment (Graded Assignment)

1. Solve the following equations using the correct number of
significant figures:
a) 847.65+93.2+85
b) 46.35/2.0
c) 63.356-41.03-25.9
d) 543.257+85.6354+65.0
e) 4.320×52.312×85.0
f) 9635.203/78.3
2. Explain why the items below are incorrect in terms of
significant figures and correct (it) afterwards:
a) 1.667+1.0+25.32 = 27.987
b) 25.35/2.03 = 12.4877
c) 1.000-2.387-2.33 = -3.7
d) 99.7×3.758 = 374.6726
e) 25.0/5.35 = 4.6729
f) 30.65×35.3×100.178 = 108,387.0862

EVALUATE EVALUATE EVALUATE EVALUATE

z

You have reviewed some important concepts for Significant Figures and
acquired additional and new knowledge on some important advancement.
You should be able to apply these concepts.

References:
Brown, Le May & Bursten. (1997). Chemistry, The Central Science, 7th Ed.
USA: Prentice Hall International.

www.khanacademy.org

www.study.com

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 ANSWERS TO EXERCISES:
EXERCISE NO. 1:
a. 4
b. 4
c. 1, 2, 3 or 4
d. 4
e. 2
f. 3

EXERCISE NO. 2:
44.104
44 866
3.535
21
3
420 or 4.2 x 102
1.977
2.38

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