AP Chemistry : Significant Figures

Study concepts, example questions & explanations for AP Chemistry

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Example Questions

Example Question #11 : Significant Figures

Calculate and give the answer with the correct number of significant figures.

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

For multistep calculations, make sure to keep track of the number of significant figures at the end of each step so we know how many significant figures to round to at the end of the entire calculation. To maintain accuracy, do not round intermediate steps.

First, calculate what's found inside the parentheses.

Recall that for multiplication and division, the answer uses the least number of significant figures found in the question. In this case, both factors have 2 significant figures. The final answer should only have 2 significant figures also. The last significant digit will be highlighted:  The decimal point is added after the last digit to ensure that there are 2 significant figures.

Next, do the addition.

Because this is addition, the result of the calculation needs to have the same number of decimal places as the number with the fewest decimal places. Since 20. does not have any decimal places, our answer also cannot have any decimal places. Thus 36.23 is rounded down to 36.

Example Question #21 : Laboratory Techniques And Analysis

Calculate and give the answer with the correct number of significant figures.

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

For multistep calculations, make sure to keep track of the number of significant figures at the end of each step so we know how many significant figures to round to at the end of the entire calculation. To maintain accuracy, do not round intermediate steps.

First, do the two addition problems found within the parentheses.

Recall that for addition, the result needs to have the same number of digits after the decimal point as the number with the fewest decimal points in the question. Our answer from the addition should then only have 2 significant figures. To remember that the answer should only have 2 significant figures, the last significant digit will be highlighted: 

Perform the second addition using the same logic as above. To remember that the answer should only have 2 significant figures, the last significant digit will be highlighted: 

Now, multiply:

Because both factors only have 2 significant figures, our final answer should also only have 2 significant figures. 0.33216 is rounded to 0.33.

Example Question #11 : Significant Figures

Calculate and give the answer with the correct number of significant figures.

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

For multistep calculations, make sure to keep track of the number of significant figures at the end of each step so we know how many significant figures to round to at the end of the entire calculation. To maintain accuracy, do not round intermediate steps.

First, do the two multiplication problems found within the parentheses.

Recall that for multiplication, the result needs to have the same number of significant figures as the factor with the least number of significant figures. Our answer from the addition should then only have 3 significant figures since that is the number of significant figures 3.14 has. To remember that the answer should only have 3 significant figures, the last significant digit will be highlighted: 

Recall that for multiplication, the result needs to have the same number of significant figures as the factor with the least number of significant figures. Our answer from the addition should then only have 1 significant figure since that is the number of significant figures 10 has. To remember that the answer should only have 1 significant figure, the last significant digit will be highlighted: 

Now, multiply:

Since the factor with the least number of significant figures only has 1 significant figure, the answer must also be rounded to 1 significant figure. 5570.13393 is rounded to 6000.

Example Question #14 : Significant Figures

Calculate and give the answer to the correct number of significant figures.

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

For multistep calculations, make sure to keep track of the number of significant figures at the end of each step so we know how many significant figures to round to at the end of the entire calculation. To maintain accuracy, do not round intermediate steps.

First, do the two multiplication problems found within the parentheses.

Recall that for multiplication, the result needs to have the same number of significant figures as the factor with the least number of significant figures. Our answer from the addition should then only have 1 significant figure since that is the number of significant figures 0.02 has. To remember that the answer should only have 3 significant figures, the last significant digit will be highlighted: 

Next, do the addition.

Because this is addition, the result of the calculation needs to have the same number of decimal places as the number with the fewest decimal places. We need to only keep 1 decimal place because of . The last significant digit from this step is highlighted: 

Next, do the second addition.

Because this is addition, the result of the calculation needs to have the same number of decimal places as the number with the fewest decimal places. Since 10 does not have any decimal places, our final answer also cannot have any decimal places. 33.356 is rounded down to 33.

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