Significant Figures and Physical States

[mano91]

I'll be looking to Mao and Shinny's advice on this one.

-Is it true that you lose a maximum of 2 marks (1 mark for sig figs and 1 mark for states) should you get them wrong?

-Also, when present with the bulk of the information at the start and say there is 3 sig figs at least in each data.
do we answer all questions in that area with 3 sig figs?
or... if for example in part ii) of that question, they give u 2 sig figs. do u answer with the 3 or 2?

-if the answer to my question is 0.00000671 mol  and there were 2 sig figs, the correct way would be 6.7x10^-6?   similarly. if my answer was 65980 grams and it said two sig figs. 6.6x10^4 g? and if for this same example, 3 sig figs,  6.60x10^4?

and wat physical state do we put for slightly soluble compounds?  (s)?

thank you for your time.

[shinny]

1. From what I've heard and seen (and remember, bit fuzzy here), each paper usually only has one question where they state 'Make sure your answer is to the correct number of significant figures', and one saying 'Make sure your answer is given in the correct state'. Supposedly, ONLY these questions counts for these respective marks, and any other mistakes in the paper with sig figs and states don't count, but don't hold me on this. Can anyone else confirm? I remember there being some sort of VCAA statement on this posted somewhere in the chem boards...
2. It just depends which data you've used from the given data in your calculations. Basically, use the lowest number of sig. figs. which were used in your calculations for that particular question.
3. Yep
4. Erm, what's an example?

[TrueTears]

1. Yes it is true, the examiners will deduct 1 mark for wrong use of sig figs and same for states. If they find a mistake for states or sig figs in your paper, they will only deduct ONE mark for it, so if you have wrong states or sig figs for more than 1 answer in your paper you will still only lose one. (Source: my teacher)

2. If you are given a bulk of data and there are no more info given in the parts then you will use the least accurate information in the bulk of data as your final answer. Yes, if in part ii) they give you 2 sig figs information and it is the least accurate for the entire question up until that part, then you use 2 sig figs in your answers.

3. That is correct.

4. Yes slightly soluble is considered to be insoluble, it would be (s).

EDIT: beat me to it shinny

[chem-nerd]

1. From what I've heard and seen (and remember, bit fuzzy here), each paper usually only has one question where they state 'Make sure your answer is to the correct number of significant figures', and one saying 'Make sure your answer is given in the correct state'. Supposedly, ONLY these questions counts for these respective marks, and any other mistakes in the paper with sig figs and states don't count, but don't hold me on this. Can anyone else confirm? I remember there being some sort of VCAA statement on this posted somewhere in the chem boards...

Yes this is true but you won't always be specifically told in the question

[mano91]

thank you people

could u also answer my q's about sig figs in the physics thread? haha