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Ch.1 - Introduction: Matter, Energy, and Measurement
All textbooksBrown 14th EditionCh.1 - Introduction: Matter, Energy, and MeasurementProblem 10a
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Chapter 1, Problem 10a

(a) How many significant figures should be reported for the volume of the metal bar shown here?

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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 how to identify significant figures is crucial for accurately reporting measurements in scientific contexts.
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Measurement Precision

Measurement precision refers to the degree of reproducibility or consistency of a measurement. It is influenced by the measuring instrument's limitations and the method used. In chemistry, reporting the correct number of significant figures reflects the precision of the measurement and the reliability of the data.
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Rounding Rules

Rounding rules dictate how to adjust numbers to reflect the correct number of significant figures. When a measurement is taken, if the last significant figure is followed by a digit of 5 or greater, the last significant figure is increased by one. Understanding these rules is essential for ensuring that reported values are both accurate and appropriately precise.
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Textbook Question

The three targets from a rifle range shown below were produced by: (A) the instructor firing a newly acquired target rifle; (B) the instructor firing his personal target rifle; and (C) a student who has fired his target rifle only a few times. (b) For the A and C results in the future to look like those in B, what needs to happen?

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Textbook Question

(a) What is the length of the pencil in the following figure if the ruler reads in centimeters? How many significant figures are there in this measurement?

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Textbook Question

(b) An automobile speedometer with circular scales reading both miles per hour and kilometers per hour is shown. What speed is indicated, in both units? How many significant figures are in the measurements?

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Textbook Question
Consider the jar of jelly beans in the photo. To get an estimate of the number of beans in the jar you weigh six beans and obtain masses of 3.15, 3.12, 2.98, 3.14, 3.02, and 3.09 g. Then you weigh the jar with all the beans in it, and obtain a mass of 2082 g. The empty jar has a mass of 653 g. Based on these data, estimate the number of beans in the jar. Justify the number of significant figures you use in your estimate.
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Textbook Question
The photo below shows a picture of an agate stone. Jack, who picked up the stone on the Lake Superior shoreline and polished it, insists that agate is a chemical compound. Ellen argues that it cannot be a compound. Discuss the relative merits of their positions.
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Textbook Question

Classify each of the following as a pure substance or a mixture. If a mixture, indicate whether it is homogeneous or heterogeneous: (c) aluminium

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