Chemistry Question: sig figs

[FightingIrish01]

Hey guys,

I was wondering, if you are given a specific heat capacity, do you consider that in your final answer as far as considering the number of significant figures in your answer?

For example, if water is 4.184, should I consider those 4 sig figs in my final answer?

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[gotmeds?]

I'm not sure this is in the right section. But since you asked, remember that with sig figs, it's the least precise measurment you have that determines the number of sig figs.

 

[FightingIrish01]

Well, I was wondering if specific heat capacities should be included in consideration for final sig amounts

 

[xpinchx]

Hey guys,

I was wondering, if you are given a specific heat capacity, do you consider that in your final answer as far as considering the number of significant figures in your answer?

For example, if water is 4.184, should I consider those 4 sig figs in my final answer?

If that value is given in a problem yeah. If you have to look something up (ie specific/molar heat capacity, molar weight, something with lots of decimals) generally not. I usually just go with the data given in a problem. Regardless, unless that specific heat capacity is your lowest amount of digits (it won't be in 99% of the cases) you'll be using the lowest amount of sig figs in the problem (ie 5.00L of water)

But while we're on this topic, if you're given a temperature in Celcius (ie 26*C), and you have to convert it to kelvin in the proble, do you use the original data for sig figs, or the number after you convert it? (In this case, would it be 2 or 3 sig figs?)

 

[FightingIrish01]

I think what is provided in the problem...determines sig figs, none of those intermediate conversions...

And YES, the specific heat capacity was the LOWEST value in my answer

 

[drizzt3117]

I think what is provided in the problem...determines sig figs, none of those intermediate conversions...

And YES, the specific heat capacity was the LOWEST value in my answer

I'm pretty sure that you use 3 sig figures for 26C because it simply IS 299K by definition...there's no measurement involved.

 

[instigata]

Dude what part of don't post homework questions in the pre-allo did you not understand?