College

Express the molarity of pancreatic juice, [tex]4.2 \times 10^{-9} \text{ M}[/tex], to two significant figures.

Answer :

To express the molarity of pancreatic juice, which is given as [tex]\(4.2 \times 10^{-9} M\)[/tex], to two significant figures, follow these steps:

1. Understand Significant Figures: Significant figures are the digits in a number that are known with certainty plus one final digit, which is somewhat uncertain or estimated. In scientific notation, significant figures are counted as all the digits in the coefficient (the number before the [tex]\( \times 10 \)[/tex] part).

2. Identify Significant Figures in Scientific Notation: The given molarity is [tex]\(4.2 \times 10^{-9}\)[/tex]. Here, the digits "4" and "2" in "4.2" are significant. This means that the number already has two significant figures.

3. Express as Required: Since the given molarity is already expressed in terms of two significant figures, there is no further change needed. Therefore, the molarity of the pancreatic juice, expressed to two significant figures, is still [tex]\(4.2 \times 10^{-9} M\)[/tex].

So, the molarity of pancreatic juice, expressed to two significant figures, is [tex]\(4.2 \times 10^{-9} M\)[/tex].