Arianna Norem General Chemistry I September 7, 2012 Section: 04

Accuracy and Precision Experiment

In lab, we did an experiment to determine the accuracy and precision for the measurement of volumes for four measuring devices: the smallest beaker in our lab drawer, a 10mL graduated cylinder, a 100mL graduated cylinder, and a burette. To begin, we must define the words accuracy and precision. Accuracy is the degree of closeness of a measured or calculated quantity to its actual (true) value. Precision, on the other hand, is degree to which further measurements/calculations show the same/similar result. These terms, although similar, cannot be used interchangeably for this experiment. For the experiment, the plan was carried out by locating the smallest beaker found in our lab drawer. We weighed the beaker on the scale to the nearest milligram (or 0.001g), recorded the results, and then filled the beaker with 22mL of water (being as accurate as possible when gauging the meniscus) to get a total weight of both the beaker and the water together. To get measure of the waters weight alone, we took the beakers weight (also referred to as mass) and subtracted it from the total weight; we then recorded these results. To be more accurate, my lab partner and I did three trials of each piece of glassware, starting with the beaker, then using the 10mL graduated cylinder, then the 100mL graduated cylinder, and finally the burette. Our data for the measurements of the masses for each piece of glassware was recorded in our lab books, along with the mass of the glassware filled with the 22mL of water, and the mass of solely the 22mL. Then using the classs results of all four pieces of glassware, we took the average or mean mass (weight) of 22mL of water and standard deviation values. To summarize the class data, the averages for the pieces of glassware were as follows: the beaker was 19.127g, the 10mL graduated cylinder was 21.200g, the 100mL graduated cylinder was 22.201g, and the buret was 22.856g. We also then calculated the standard deviation value for all four pieces of glassware, as follows: the beaker was 2.67733597g, the 10mL graduated cylinder was .4070128721g, the 100mL graduated cylinder was .7786852578g, and the burette was .6020807328g. Note: the smaller the standard deviation value, the more precise value given. In conclusion, according to the classs results, the 100mL graduated cylinder proved to be the most accurate piece of glassware with an average of 22.201g (1.00g/1mL22.201mL) and the glassware with the most preciseness was the 10mL cylinder with a standard deviation of .4070128721g (1.00/1mL.4070128721mL).

Questions to Consider:
a) What should the mass of 22mL of water be? The mass of 22mL should be 22g; to calculate this you use the 1.00g/1mL conversion. (When finding the most precise piece of glassware, you look for the value closest to 22) b) Which piece of glassware is the most accurate for measuring 22mL of water? According to the class data, the 100mL graduated cylinder was the most accurate for measuring 22mL of water; however, the accuracy of the markings on volumetric glassware varies greatly. The markings on beakers and flasks are usually about plus or minus 5% of the volume of the container. As such, they should be used only when a rough estimate of volume is required. The tolerance on graduated cylinders is about 1%. Volumetric flasks, burettes and pipets are the most accurate with tolerances of less than 0.2%. c) Which piece of glassware is the most precise for measuring 22mL of water? According to the class data, the 10mL graduated cylinder was the most precise for measuring 22mL of water; however, in reality, a burette is more accurate in that each mL of measurement, due to the smaller diameter of the tube, is larger in physical size between graduations and is therefore easier to read and a burette also begins its graduations from the top. Graduated cylinders and beakers measure from the bottom and each mL division is very small in comparison. An example my mother, a Nursing Professor at ICCC, gave me was when they draw blood, they want to be exact so by using a tiny syringe because of its precision, they are able to accomplish that.

I believe that our answers were off due to certain groups mentioning during lab they had measurement error when they were doing their individual part of the experiment. Other errors and problems that could have contributed to our results are possibly individuals reading the meniscus incorrectly, not zeroing out the scale, not drying out the beaker enough and leaving residue from the previous measurement, or not copying numbers down correctly. There are a number of errors that could have been made. d) Would your answer to any of these questions change if you were measuring 2mL of water? No. Regardless of the amount being measured, I would still say the burette would be both the most accurate and precise. e) What about 220mL of water? No. Although measuring 220mL would take a greater length of time than to measure 2mL in the burette, I would still use the burette. f) What is the difference between precision and accuracy?

Accuracy is the degree of closeness of a measured or calculated quantity to its actual (true) value. Precision is degree to which further measurements/calculations show the same/similar result. As previously stated, these terms although similar actually have distinct differences in definition that we must be aware of when carrying out experiments such as this one.