Part 18 of Chapter 1 in Chemistry

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Under Significant Figures the book says, "Any time a measurement is recorded, it includes all the digits that are certain plus one uncertain digit. These certain digits plus the one uncertain digit are referred to as 'significant figures'. The more digits you are able to record in a measurement, the less relative unsignificant there is in the measurement. The following table summarizes the rules of 'significant figures'. Rule Example Number of Significant Figures All digits other than 25 g 2 zeros are significant. 5.471 g 4 Zeros between nonzero 309 g 3 digits are significant. 40.06 g 4 Final zeros to the right of the decimal 6.00mL 3 point are significant. 2.350mL 4 In numbers smaller 0.05 cm (1) The zeros merely mark the than 1, zeros to the position of the decimal point. left or directly to the right of the decimal 0.060 (2) The first two zeros mark the point are not position of the decimal point. significant. The final zero is significant." "One last rule deals with final zeros in a whole number. These zeros may or may not be significant, depending on the measuring instrument. For instance, if an instrument that measures to the nearest mile (mi) is used, the number 3000 mi has four 'significant figures'. If, however, the instrument in question records miles to the nearest thousands, there is only one 'significant figure'." Scientific notation below can show the numbers needed: 3 x 10 to the 3 one significant figure 3.0 x 10 to the 3 two significant figures 3.00 x 10 to the 3 three significant figures 3.000 x 10 to the 3 four significant figures One more section before the Chapter summary.