sig figs and periodic tables
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sig figs and periodic tables
which periodic table should I use in terms of to which decimal place cause a lot of them differ a lot.
Re: sig figs and periodic tables
Use the periodic table Lavelle put on his website. It's the one that they gave us on the test.
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Re: sig figs and periodic tables
The IUPAC Periodic table is the one we used on the test and I believe it goes to three our four decimal places
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Re: sig figs and periodic tables
The periodic table given on the test was the one on his website, so I would use that one. I would also go to the last decimal place given on the periodic table and not round your final answer till the end.
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Re: sig figs and periodic tables
If we use the rounded version of the atomic mass (let's say to the hundredths) and correctly use significant figures, would our answer be wrong if the answer we get is right according to the rounded calculations we made?
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Re: sig figs and periodic tables
I dont think it should be as long as your final answer is not more sig figs than the least digit you used.
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Re: sig figs and periodic tables
When I use the periodic table for math on problems, I take the entire number shown on it, then round off my final answer to the required number of sig figs, in hopes of retaining accuracy.
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Re: sig figs and periodic tables
If you rounded your sig figs/ used a different periodic table and showed that through your work on a problem that you got incorrect because of rounding would you lose points?
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Re: sig figs and periodic tables
Should we bet using sig figs based on given number values (ex: if the problem gives us 250 mL, we use 3 sig figs) or should we be basing the amount of sig figs we use on calculations as we go?
Re: sig figs and periodic tables
You should base your sig figs off of what the problem gives you I think. If 250 ml is your smallest given, your final answer should have 2 sig figs. I don't think constants like 273.15 K contribute to sig figs, but you might want to check that.
Re: sig figs and periodic tables
You should use the one Professor Lavelle gives us on his website. On the test, I usually keep as many sig figs as I can when I'm doing calculations to keep my answers as precise as possible.
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