Which of the following best explains why scientific notation is useful in chemistry?

• A. It ensures that all numbers are positive.
• B. It allows very large or very small numbers to be written more compactly and compared more easily.
• C. It eliminates the need for units in chemical calculations.
• D. It converts all numbers into fractions for easier calculations.

Answer: (B)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Understand that scientific notation is a method of expressing numbers that are either very large or very small in a compact form.
2. Recognize that in chemistry, many quantities such as atomic masses, concentrations, and reaction rates can span a wide range of magnitudes, making standard decimal notation cumbersome.
3. Scientific notation expresses numbers as a product of a number between 1 and 10 and a power of 10, which simplifies writing and comparing these values.
4. Note that scientific notation does not change the sign of numbers, eliminate units, or convert numbers into fractions; its main purpose is to improve readability and ease of comparison.
5. Therefore, the best explanation is that scientific notation allows very large or very small numbers to be written more compactly and compared more easily.