Throughout Chemistry 2, the proper number of significant figures must be used in all laboratory
reports and on all examinations.
Failure to do so will result in the loss of
credit.
All non-zero digits are significant, for example, 123 has three significant figures.
Zeros between non-zero digits are significant, for example, 12.507 has five significant figures.
Zeros to the left of the first non-zero digit are not significant, for example, 1.02 has three significant figures, 0.12 has two
significant figures, and 0.012 also has two
significant figures.
If a number ends in zeros to the right of the decimal point,
those zeros are significant, for example, 2.0 has two
significant figures and 2.00 has
three significant figures.