CHEM

301

Analytical Chemistry

Unit 6
Introduction to
Chemical
Analysis:
Sources and Nature of
Errors

CHEM
301

Analytical Chemistry

Sources and Nature of Errors

Accuracy
closeness of a result to its true or accepted value

Precision
closeness of data to other data that have been
obtained in exactly the same way

CHEM
301

Analytical Chemistry

Sources and Nature of Errors

CHEM
301

Analytical Chemistry

Sources and Nature of Errors

Replicates
samples of about the same size that are carried
through an analysis in exactly the same way

CHEM
301

Analytical Chemistry

Sources and Nature of Errors

Absolute Error
difference between the measured value and the
true value

E = xtrue - xmeasured

CHEM
301

Analytical Chemistry

Sources and Nature of Errors

Relative Error
absolute error divided by the true value

E = xtrue - xmeasured
xtrue

x 100%

CHEM
301

Analytical Chemistry

Sources and Nature of Errors

Types of Error:
Random or Indeterminate Error
errors that affect the precision of measurement

Systematic or Determinate
Error
errors that affect the accuracy of results

CHEM
301

Analytical Chemistry

Sources and Nature of Errors

Sources of Systematic Errors:
Instrument errors
calibration eliminates most instrument errors

Method errors
most difficult to identify and correct

Personal errors
based on personal judgement