Sig Figs for pH/pOH

[LBacker_2E]

Is there a special way to calculate sig figs for pH and pOH? I feel like this might have been mentioned in class, but now I am getting confused if this is for my chem lab instead? Do you determine sig figs based off of the decimal places of the numbers you are given or vice versa?

[asannajust_1J]

number of sig figs in a pH or pOH only count after the decimal. For pH=3.489, there would be three sig figs since there are 3 decimal place. If the question is only 1 sig fig then the pH can be reported to 1 decimal place. Hope this makes sense!

[MAC 4G]

Generally, you would use the smallest number of sig figs you were given in a problem. For example, if you used a ICE box to find that x is 4.22*10^-5, then you're pH or pOH should have 3 sig figs (2 numbers after the decimal) like 4.38.

[EMurphy_2L]

the number of sig figs in the problem asked is the number of decimal places you include after taking a log (which applies to pH and pOH)

[stephaniekim2K]

The number of sig figs to the answer of a log is the amount of sig figs after the decimal of the number you took the log of.

[Minh Ngo 4G]

Basically the digit before the “.” doesn’t count as sig fig. For example, pH =3.98 only has 2 sig fig. You count after the decimal place. However, the concentration of OH or H3O follow the usual rule.

[nicole-2B]

significant figures for pH/pOH only counts after the decimal.

[Renee Grange 1I]

in pH/pOH the you only count sig figs after the decimal point.