Question

Find the option with 5 significant figures

• A. $0.02608$
• B. $2.608$
• C. $26.008$
• D. $26.08$

Answer 1

The correct option is C

$26.008$

Rules of significant figures

1. Non-zero digits are significant.
2. A zero in between significant digits are significant.
3. In decimal numbers, the zeroes at the end are significant.
4. In a non-decimal number zeroes at the end are not significant.

Explanation of correct option

Option C,

$26.008$

Here $2,6,8$ are significant since they are non-zero digits, since the zero's lie in between these significant figures, they are also significant. So $26.008$ has five significant figures.

Explanation of incorrect options

Option A,

$0.02608$

Here $2,6,8$ are significant since they are non-zero digits, the two zero's at the first are insignificant, and the zero in between the significant numbers is significant. So $0.02608$ has four significant figures.

Option B,

$2.608$

Here $2,6,8$ are significant since they are non-zero digits, the zero in between the significant numbers is significant. So $2.608$ has four significant figures.

Option D,

$26.08$

Here $2,6,8$ are significant since they are non-zero digits, the zero in between the significant numbers is significant. So $2.608$ has four significant figures.

Therefore, Option C is correct