Table of contents

1. Matter and Measurements4h 31m
2. Atoms and the Periodic Table5h 23m
3. Ionic Compounds2h 18m
4. Molecular Compounds2h 18m
5. Classification & Balancing of Chemical Reactions3h 17m
6. Chemical Reactions & Quantities2h 27m
7. Energy, Rate and Equilibrium3h 46m
8. Gases, Liquids and Solids3h 25m
9. Solutions4h 10m
10. Acids and Bases3h 29m
11. Nuclear Chemistry56m
BONUS: Lab Techniques and Procedures1h 38m
BONUS: Mathematical Operations and Functions47m
12. Introduction to Organic Chemistry1h 34m
13. Alkenes, Alkynes, and Aromatic Compounds2h 12m
14. Compounds with Oxygen or Sulfur1h 6m
15. Aldehydes and Ketones1h 1m
16. Carboxylic Acids and Their Derivatives1h 11m
17. Amines39m
18. Amino Acids and Proteins1h 51m
19. Enzymes1h 37m
20. Carbohydrates1h 41m
21. The Generation of Biochemical Energy2h 8m
22. Carbohydrate Metabolism2h 22m
23. Lipids2h 26m
24. Lipid Metabolism1h 45m
25. Protein and Amino Acid Metabolism1h 37m
26. Nucleic Acids and Protein Synthesis2h 54m

1. Matter and Measurements

Significant Figures (Simplified)

GOB Chemistry

1. Matter and Measurements

Significant Figures (Simplified)

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2:43 minutes

Problem 11

Textbook Question

In which of the following pairs do both numbers contain the same number of significant figures?
a. 11.0 m and 11.00 m
b. 0.0250 m and 0.205 m
c. 0.000 12 s and 12 000 s
d. 250.0 L and 2.5 × 10^-2 L

Verified step by step guidance

Step 1: Recall the rules for determining significant figures. Significant figures include all non-zero digits, any zeros between significant digits, and trailing zeros in a decimal number. Leading zeros are not significant.

Step 2: Analyze option (a): '11.0 m' has 3 significant figures because the trailing zero is significant in a decimal number. '11.00 m' has 4 significant figures because the two trailing zeros are significant. These do not have the same number of significant figures.

Step 3: Analyze option (b): '0.0250 m' has 3 significant figures because the leading zeros are not significant, but the trailing zero is. '0.205 m' also has 3 significant figures because the leading zero is not significant, but all other digits are. These have the same number of significant figures.

Step 4: Analyze option (c): '0.000 12 s' has 2 significant figures because the leading zeros are not significant. '12 000 s' has 2 significant figures if written without a decimal point, but it could have more if written with a decimal point (e.g., '12 000.' would have 5 significant figures). Without additional context, these do not necessarily have the same number of significant figures.

Step 5: Analyze option (d): '250.0 L' has 4 significant figures because the trailing zero is significant in a decimal number. '2.5 x 10⁻² L' has 2 significant figures because only the digits in the coefficient are counted in scientific notation. These do not have the same number of significant figures.

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Key Concepts

Here are the essential concepts you must grasp in order to answer the question correctly.

Significant Figures

Significant figures are the digits in a number that contribute to its precision. This includes all non-zero digits, any zeros between significant digits, and trailing zeros in the decimal portion. Understanding significant figures is crucial for accurately reporting measurements and ensuring that calculations reflect the precision of the data.

Rules for Counting Significant Figures

There are specific rules for determining the number of significant figures in a number. For example, leading zeros are not counted, while trailing zeros in a decimal number are significant. Knowing these rules helps in comparing the significant figures of different numbers, which is essential for the question at hand.

Scientific Notation

Scientific notation is a way of expressing numbers that are too large or too small in a compact form, using powers of ten. It helps in clearly indicating the number of significant figures, especially when dealing with very small or very large values. Understanding how to interpret numbers in scientific notation is important for evaluating significant figures in the context of the question.