Mr.

Shields

Regents Chemistry U00 L02

Significant Figures
In all numbers there are digits that are Significant & others are not Significant.
Why should we be concerned which numbers are significant?

1) Measurements are never exact.

2) Scientist want to record their data (nos.) with the LEAST AMOUNT OF UNCERTAINTY.
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Significant Figures
Scientists created rules so numbers could be written with the least amount of uncertainty. These are the rules governing what are called Significant figures. By using these rules scientist can be confident that the numbers people report dont exaggerate their accuracy!

The greater the number of significant figures the more PRECISE the number
For example 3.41 is less precise than 3.413341 There are more sig figs in the 2nd number

Significant Figures
To determine the number of significant figures in a number Lets take a look a technique that will help us figure it out

Its called the ATLANTIC - PACIFIC RULE

Atlantic Pacific Rule

1. Draw a map of the United States and label the 2 oceans which are???

PACIFIC

ATLANTIC

Atlantic Pacific Rule

1. If a decimal point is Present in the number start counting from the Pacific side 2. If a decimal point is Absent in the number count from the Atlantic side 3. Begin counting all numbers from the first NON-ZERO digit
- That number and all digits after it (including zeros) are SIGNIFICANT
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Try the rule with these two numbers. How many Sig figs are there?

0.06901
100,100,300

Significant Figures
Lastly, all COUNTING and DEFINED NUMBERS are treated as if they have an INFINITE no. of Sig Figs Ex: 2 pairs of gloves 7 Keys 2.54 cm = 1 inch Counting Counting Definition (infinite sig fig)

Atlantic Pacific Rule

Lets try some examples. How many significant Figures are in the following numbers?

3456
0.040860 3.50001 20000 7 oranges

4 sig figs
5 sig figs 6 sig figs 1 sig fig Infinite sig figs
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Atlantic Pacific Rule

Lets try some more examples. How many sig figs Are there in the following pairs of numbers?

750 vs. 750.

1001 vs. 1000 2.07 vs. 2.070

2 vs 3 sig figs
4 vs. 1 sig figs 3 vs. 4 sig figs

0.00572 vs 572 3 vs. 3 sig figs

1001. vs. 1000. 4 vs 4 sig figs
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Working with Significant Figures

Its important we know how to manipulate Significant figures. Well need to know the same manipulations we needed to know for Scientific Notation, namely:
1. Addition 2. Subtraction 3. Multiplication 4. Division + x /
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Working with Significant Figures

Lets look at the rules that govern these mathematical operations.
1 & 2. Addition & Subtraction have the same rule
The number of decimal places in the Ans. EQUALS the Smallest Number of DECIMAL places in any of the nos. Being added or subtracted. Ex: 6.8 + 11.934 = 18.734 = 18.7 2.01 + 0.003 + 1 = 3.013 =3
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Working with Significant Figures

3 & 4. Multiplication & Division have the same rule

The number of sig figs in the ans. Equals the number of Sig Figs in the least precise number

Ex: 6.8 x 11.934 = 81.1512 = 81.

2.014 / 0.70 = 2.877143 = 2.9
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