Sig Figs

Science questions not covered in Chem 14A and 14B. Try to limit questions to chemistry (inorganic chemistry, physical chemistry, organic chemistry, biophysical chemistry, biochemistry, materials science, environmental chemistry).

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Soonwoo Chung 1D
Posts: 26
Joined: Wed Sep 21, 2016 2:57 pm

Sig Figs

Postby Soonwoo Chung 1D » Wed Feb 01, 2017 1:39 am

In certain questions, there is no given data, but you can find it by looking at the table (for example, the enthalpies of formation). Would I just use the numbers I get from the table to determine the sig figs?

Alexa_Kwang_1D
Posts: 24
Joined: Wed Sep 21, 2016 3:00 pm

Re: Sig Figs

Postby Alexa_Kwang_1D » Wed Feb 01, 2017 9:58 am

I would because sometimes numbers in tables are approximations or are not the most precise so you need to account for that.

Grace_Bower_2B
Posts: 13
Joined: Wed Sep 21, 2016 2:58 pm

Re: Sig Figs

Postby Grace_Bower_2B » Sun Feb 05, 2017 11:28 pm

If those are the only data points you are given, yes. Otherwise use the least precise measurement not counting measurements that have to be made in whole numbers.

Jaz_Y_1H
Posts: 19
Joined: Wed Sep 21, 2016 2:56 pm

Re: Sig Figs

Postby Jaz_Y_1H » Thu Feb 09, 2017 11:01 am

If there are no measured values in the question, do we assume to round to the nearest hundredth? For example, in Chapter 9 problem 21 part b, it says to calculate the entropy of a solid nanostructure made of 64 molecules in which the molecules lie in any one of four orientations with the same energy. The solutions manual gives the answer in 3 sig figs ( Ans= 1.22x10^-21 J/K) I am curious to know if we are expected to round to the nearest hundredth in cases like this.
Thank you in advance.


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