- All non-zero digits are significant. For Example in 285cm, there are three Significant figures and in 0.25 mL, there are two significant figures.
- Zeros preceding to first non-zero digit are not significant. such zero indicates the position of decimal point. thus, 0.03 has one significant figure and 0.0052 has two significant figures.
- Zeros between two non-zero digits are significant. thus, 2.005 has four Significant figures.
- Zeros at the end or right of a number are significant, provided they are on the right side of the decimal point. For example, 0.200 g has three significant figures. But, if otherwise, the terminal zeros are not significant if there is no decimal point.
- Law of Conservation of Mass-This law was put forth by Antoine Lavoisierin 1789. He performed careful experimental studies for combustion reactions and reached to the conclusion that in all physical andchemical changes, there is no net change inmassduring the process. Hence, he reachedto the conclusion that matter can neither becreated nor destroyed. This is called ‘Law ofConservation of Mass’.
- Law of Definite Proportions-This law was given by, a French chemist, Joseph Proust. He stated that a given compound always contains exactly the same proportion of elements by weight.
- Law of Multiple Proportions-This law was proposed by John Dalton. According to this law, if two elements can combine to form more than one compound, the masses of one element that combine with a fixed mass of the other element, are in the ratio of small whole numbers. For example, hydrogen combines with oxygen to form two compounds, namely, water and hydrogen peroxide.
Hydrogen + Oxygen→ Water
2g 16g 18g
Hydrogen + Oxygen → Hydrogen Peroxide
2g 32g 34g
Here, the masses of oxygen (i.e., 16 g and 32 g), which combine with a fixed mass of hydrogen (2g) bear a simple ratio, i.e., 16:32 or 1:2.
- Gay Lussac’s Law of Gaseous Volumes-This law was given by Gay Lussac in 1808. Heobserved that when gases combine or are produced in a chemicalreaction they do so in asimple ratio by volume,provided all gases are at the same temperature and pressure.
- Avogadro’s Law – In 1811, Avogadro proposed that equal volumes of all gases at the same temperature and pressure should contain equal number of molecules.
- Matter consists of indivisible atoms.
- All atoms of a given element have identical properties, including identical mass. Atoms of different elements differ in mass.
- Compounds are formed when atoms of different elements combine in a fixed ratio.
- Chemical reactions involve reorganisati on of atoms. These are neither created nor destroyed in a chemical reaction.
- … refers to the closeness of variousmeasurements for the same quantity.
- Accuracy
- Reliability
- Precision
- Uncertainty
- Law of Conservation of mass was put forth by ….in 1789.
- Joseph Proust
- Antoine Lavoisier
- Joseph Louis
- Gay Lussac
- Which of the following number has twosignificant figures.
- 0.0052
- 052
- 52
- 0052
- … is the agreement of a particular valueto the true value of the result.
- Accuracy
- Reliability
- Precision
- Uncertainty
- Law of Multiple Proportions proposed by....
- Joseph Proust
- Antoine Lavoisier
- Joseph Louis
- John Dalton



It may be emphasised that the assumption Of electron transfer is made for book-keeping Purpose only and it will become obvious at a Later stage in this unit that it leads to the simple Description of redox reactions. Oxidation number denotes the Oxidation state of an element in a Compound ascertained according to a set Of rules formulated on the basis that electron pair in a covalent bond belongs Entirely to more electronegative element. It is not always possible to remember or Make out easily in a compound/ ion, which Element is more electronegative than the other. Therefore, a set of rules has been formulated To determine the oxidation number of an Element in a compound/ ion. We may at this stage, state the rules for the Calculation of oxidation number. These rules are: 1.) In elements, in the free or the uncombined State, each atom bears an oxidation Number of zero. Evidently each atom in H2, O2, Cl2, O3, P4, S8, Na, Mg, Al has the Oxidation number zero. 2.) For ions composed of only one atom, the Oxidation number is equal to the charge On the ion. Thus Na+ Ion has an oxidation Number of +1, Mg2+ ion +2 , Fe3+ ion, +3, Cl – Ion, –1, O2 – ion, –2; and so on. In their Compounds all alkali metals have Oxidation number of +1, and all alkaline Earth metals have an oxidation number of +2. Aluminium is regarded to have an Oxidation number of +3 in all its Compounds. 3.) The oxidation number of oxygen in most Compounds is –2. However, we come across Two kinds of exceptions here. One arises In the case of peroxides and superoxides, The compounds of oxygen in which oxygen Atoms are directly linked to each other. While in peroxides (e.g., H2 O2, Na2 O2), each Oxygen atom is assigned an oxidation Number of –1, in superoxides (e.g., K O2, Rb O2) each oxygen atom is assigned an Oxidation number of –(½). The second Exception appears rarely, i.e. when oxygen Is bonded to fluorine. In such compounds e.g., oxygen difluoride (OF2) and dioxygen difluoride (O2F2), the oxygen is assigned an oxidation number of +2 and +1, respectively. The number assigned to oxygen will depend upon the bonding state of oxygen but this number would now be a positive figure only. 4.) The oxidation number of hydrogen is +1, Except when it is bonded to metals in binary Compounds (that is compounds containing Two elements). For example, in LiH, NaH, And Ca H2, its oxidation number is –1. 5.) In all its compounds, fluorine has an Oxidation number of –1. Other halogens (Cl, Br, and I) also have an oxidation number Of –1, when they occur as halide ions in Their compounds. Chlorine, bromine and Iodine when combined with oxygen, for Example in oxoacids and oxoanions, have Positive oxidation numbers. 6.) The algebraic sum of the oxidation number Of all the atoms in a compound must be Zero. In polyatomic ion, the algebraic sum Of all the oxidation numbers of atoms of The ion must equal the charge on the ion. Thus, the sum of oxidation number of three Oxygen atoms and one carbon atom in the Carbonate ion, (CO3) 2– must equal –2. A term that is often used interchangeably With the oxidation number is the oxidation State. Thus in CO2, the oxidation state of Carbon is +4, that is also its oxidation number And similarly the oxidation state as well as Oxidation number of oxygen is – 2. This implies That the oxidation number denotes the Oxidation state of an element in a compound. The oxidation number/state of a metal in a Compound is sometimes presented according To the notation given by German chemist, Alfred Stock. It is popularly known as Stock Notation. According to this, the oxidation Number is expressed by putting a Roman Numeral representing the oxidation number In parenthesis after the symbol of the metal in The molecular formula. Thus aurous chloride And auric chloride are written as Au(I)Cl and Au(III)Cl3. Similarly, stannous chloride and Stannic chloride are written as Sn(II) Cl2 and Sn(IV)Cl4. This change in oxidation number Implies change in oxidation state, which in Turn helps to identify whether the species is Present in oxidised form or reduced form. Thus, Hg2(I) Cl2 is the reduced form of Hg(II) Cl2. 