Significant Figures

Question

The number of significant figures in the measurement 0.002060 g is:

RankGuru · Accepted Answer

1. **Rule for Leading Zeros**: Zeros preceding the first non-zero digit are **not significant**. The '0.00' portion (three leading zeros) serves only to locate the decimal.
2. **Identify Significant Digits**: Starting from the first non-zero digit:
   - **2** — significant (1st)
   - **0** — significant, trapped between non-zero digits (2nd)
   - **6** — significant (3rd)
   - **0** — significant, trailing zero after a non-zero digit in a decimal number (4th)
3. **Count**: 4 significant figures.
4. **Common Mistake**: Students often count all zeros (getting 7) or miss the trailing zero (getting 3). The trailing zero after '6' in a decimal measurement is intentional and indicates precision.
5. **NEET Tip**: Trailing zeros in a decimal number are always significant, while trailing zeros in a whole number without a decimal point may or may not be significant.

Significant Figures

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