def get_sci_val(decimal_val):
    """
    returns the scientific notation for a decimal value
    :param decimal_val: the decimal value to be converted
    :return: the scientific notation of the decimal value
    """
    sci_val = ''
    if decimal_val is not None:
        if decimal_val == 0:
            sci_val = '0'
        else:
            sci_val = '{0: E}'.format(decimal_val)
            sci_val = sci_val.split('E')[0].rstrip('0').rstrip('.').lstrip() + 'E' + sci_val.split('E')[1]
    return sci_val