Chapter PSS, Problem 43E

Interpretation Introduction

Interpretation:

The mass of an oxygen molecule given as $0.0000000000000000000000532\text{g}$ is to be expressed in scientific notation.

Concept introduction:

The ordinary numbers are written as the power of $10$ in the scientific terms. The power of $10$ denotes the position of decimal point in a number. The number as the positive power of $10$ shows that the decimal point is present on the right side of the whole number digits. On the other hand, the negative power shows that the decimal point is present on the left side of the whole number digits.

In scientific notation, the non-zero significant numbers are written along with the power of $10$ which denotes the position of decimal point.