Open Question
Why does a temperature measurement of 25 °C have three significant figures, while a temperature measurement of -196 °C only has two significant figures? Explain.
1. Intro to General Chemistry
Significant Figures
Multiple Choice
How many significant figures are present in the number 60?
A
1
B
2
C
3
D
0
Verified step by step guidance1
Understand the concept of significant figures: Significant figures are the digits in a number that carry meaningful information about its precision. This includes all nonzero digits, any zeros between significant digits, and trailing zeros in a decimal number.
Analyze the number given: The number is 60. It has two digits: '6' and '0'.
Determine if the zero is significant: In the number 60 without a decimal point, the trailing zero is generally not considered significant because it only indicates the scale of the number, not precision.
Recall the rule for trailing zeros without a decimal point: Trailing zeros in a whole number without a decimal point are not significant. Therefore, only the digit '6' is significant.
Conclude the number of significant figures: Since only the '6' is significant, the number 60 has 1 significant figure.
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