Questions 1. Explain how weighing by difference eliminates systematic balance errors.

A systematic error means that a constant error is applied to the true weight of the object. For example, the weighing scale shows 50 g when the object on it actually has a mass of 49 g. Thus, the systematic error here is 1 g. In our case, to gain the mass of 10 mL of 50% NaOH, first we weighted a dry and empty 50 mL beaker. Then the solution was placed into the beaker and again was weighted. Both the beaker and the 10 mL of 50% NaOH will contain the same systematic error inherent in the weighing scale. Hence, by substracting mass of the beaker by the mass of the beaker with the solution, the actual mass of the solution can be obtained without the systematic error.

2. Why does it not matter how much water you add when dissolving the acid (KHP) or when carrying out the titration? The titration equivalence point occurs when the acid present in the sample has been exactly neutralised by the volume of base added. Additional water added to the reaction vessel has no effect on the volume of base added. In other word, the calculations are basicly based on the volume of the acid added into the flask before diluting it, not after. The moles of the acid remain the same, regardless of how much water is also present.