How many significant figures are justified for the liquid density determined from transfer pipet and analytical balance data? EXPLAIN

Question

a) How many significant figures are justified for the liquid density determined from transfer pipet and analytical balance data? EXPLAIN.

b) How many significant figures are justified for the solid density determined from graduated cylinder and top loading balance data? EXPLAIN.

Answer 1

Hi there!

This question should depend on the data you've sourced in doing the lab or homework. Since density = mass/volume the rules of significant figures for division and multiplication is that you round to the lower number of sig figs between your data values. For example, if your mass was measured as 1.1134g (5 sig figs) and the volume was 20.2 mL (3 sig figs) the final answer would be rounded to 3 sig figs.

d = 1.1134g / 20.2mL = 0.0551188 g/mL -> rounded to 0.0551 g/mL (3 sig figs for our final answer).

For a and b you'll want to assign sig figs to your data values for mass and volume and pick the lower number of the two for your final answer.