Question

You are using a digital balance to determine mass. When recording your values, youshould use the following to decide the number of significant digits:A) Always use three significant digits because that is the standard for chemistry.B) Use all values on the display, even if the last is flickering, because it isunderstood that the last significant digit is estimated.C) Ask the lab supervisory every time.D) Depend on your lab partner to know.

Answer 1

The number of significant figures on a balance is dependent on the balance itself, not on what your partner or supervisory or some standard.

So, although you could ask for someone, you can see how many significant figures on the balance. It will always show all the significant figures, so you want to use all the number, and the last one is the imprecise one, so it is the last significant figure.

So, the correct alternative is alternative B.