When does a 0 count as a significant figure?

1 Answer
Meave60
Sep 7, 2016

A zero is significant when it is between other significant figures and when it follows a significant figure after the decimal.

Explanation:

The following examples represent insignificant zeros.

0.537 cm#rArr# 3 significant figures
0.00624 g#rArr# 3 significant figures
150,000 m#rArr# 2 significant figures

The following measurements have significant zeros.

806 km#rArr# 1 significant zero; 3 significant figures
24.000 g#rArr# 3 significant zeros; 5 significant figures
370.6080 m#rArr# 3 significant zeros; 7 significant figures
0.073102 mol#rArr# 1 significant zero; 5 significant figures

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