ERT 207 Analytical Chemistry (Sem 1 2013/2014)

Tutorial 1
1. How many zeros are significant figures in a measured mass of 0.010010 g?
Three
2. The number of significant figures in 0.00230300 m is ___six____.
3. The number of significant digits in 200.000 is _____six______.
4. What is the average of 0.1707, 0.1713, 0.1720, 0.1704, and 0.1715?
The average of these numbers is calculated to be 0.17118, which rounds to 0.1712 .
5. What is the standard deviation of the numbers in question 4?
The result that you get in calculating the standard deviation of these numbers depends
on the number of digits retained in the intermediate digits of the calculation. For
example, if you used 0.1712 instead of the more accurate 0.17118 as the mean in the
standard deviation calculation, that would be wrong (don't round intermediate results
or you will introduce propagated error into your calculations).
6. How many significant figures does each of following numbers have?
a) 200.06 = 5
b) 6.030 x 10-4 = 4
c) 7.80 x 1010 = 3
d) 0.02670 = 4

e) 328.0 = 4

f) 7000.0 = 5 g) 0.00200 = 3

7. A batch of nuclear fuel pallets was weighed to determine if they fell within control
guidelines. The weights were 127.2, 128.4, 127.1, 129.0 and 128.1 g. Calculate (a)
the mean, (b) the median, (c) the range.
(a) 128.0
(b) 128.1
(c) 129.0-127.1=1.9

8. Calculate the absolute error and the relative error in percent and in parts per
thousand in the following:

Measured value

Accepted value

a) 22.62 g

22.57 g

b) 45.02 mL

45.31 mL

c) 2.68%

2.71%

d) 85.6 cm

85.0

cm

a) Absolute error = 22.62g 22.57g = 0.05g

Relative error = 0.05 X 1000%= -2.4
22.57
b) Absolute error = 45.02 mL 45.31 mL = -0.29
Relative error = -0.29 X 1000%= -6.4
45.31
c) Absolute error = 2.68 % 2.71 % = -0.03
Relative error = -0.03 X 1000%= -11.1
2.71
d) Absolute error = 85.6 cm 85.0 cm = 0.6
Relative error = 0.6 X 1000%= 7.1
85.0
9. Replicate water samples are analyzed for water hardness with the following
results; 102.2, 102.8, 103.1 and 102.3 ppm CaCO3. Calculate (a) the standard
deviation, (b) the relative standard deviation, (c) the standard deviation of the
mean and, (d) the relative standard deviation of the mean.

Sample (ppm
CaCO3)

Deviation
from mean
xi x

Deviation
from
median

xi x 2

102.2
102.8
103.1
102.3

0.4
0.2
0.5
0.3

0.4
0.2
0.5
0.3

0.16
0.04
0.25
0.09

Mean=102.6
Median=102.6

(d bar) =0.4

0.54

0.54
0.42 ppm
4 1
s 0.4243
0.004
(b) the relative standard deviation, rsd
x
102.6

(a) the standard deviation, s

CV

s
100%
x

=0.004 x 100% = 0.4%

(c) the standard deviation of the mean , s (mean)

0.4243

4
N
0.21
100 0.20%
(d) the relative standard deviation of the mean =
102.6

0.21 ppm

10. Replicate samples of a silver alloy are analyzed and determined to contain 95.67,
95.61, 95.71, and 95.60% Ag. Calculate (a) the standard deviation, (b) the
standard deviation of the mean, (c) the relative standard deviation of the mean