EXPERIMENT 1

NUMBERS AND MEASUREMENT

OBJECTIVES
• To use a serological pipette, burette and analytical balance properly
• To measure the mass and volume of different samples and calculate derivative information
• To apply statistical tools to verify accuracy and precision of data
• To analyze the sources of error in performing an experiment
INTRODUCTION
Measurement is an integral part of Chemistry because it is the quantitative expression of the
physical property of matter. It Is derived from the Greek word “metron” which means limited
proportion and the widely used system of measurement is called “Metric System”. Metric system
uses units such as meter (m) for length, gram (g) for mass, liter (L) for volume, Celcius (OC)/
Kelvin (K) for temperature and second (s) for time.
In Analytical Chemistry, measuring accurately and measuring precisely the mass and volume of
samples are the essential skills of each student should exhibit. Using burette and serological
pipette correctly is also important in this course. Performing correct calculations derived from
measurements and reporting measured numbers in correct manner are also important in all
experiments. Although perfection is the aim in every experiment, some errors are inevitable,
however, sources of error should be identified after every experiment so that in the succeeding
experiments, error/s can be avoided or eliminated.
Measuring accurately means using tools to quantify the physical property of matter and the
value obtained should be very close to the known, true value or standard value. Thus, the
farther the measurement is to the expected value, the less accurate it is. Accuracy can be
determined even in a single measurement and can be evaluated through percent error
calculations.
% Error = I True Value – Experimental Value I X 100 True Value
Precision in measurements, on the other hand, is the expression of how close are the measured
values to each other, thus, it can only be determined through several measurements. Several
trials are needed to determine the precision of the measurements or the reliability and the
reproducibility of the experiment. To determine statistically the precision of the measurements,
standard deviation is computed after the experiment. Standard deviation is as follows:

= ( xx − )
n
−1
where: x = sample data
x = mean n = number of samples s = standard deviation 2

MATERIALS AND
REAGENTS
 ethanol acetone dichloromethane ruler CuSO4 analytical balance
table salt pre-weighed vials with standard mass water thermometer
watch glass masking tape buret tetra pack 100 mL beaker droppers
10 mL graduated cylinder 10 mL serological pipette 100 mL
graduated cylinder

PROCEDU
RE

A. Measuring the
Mass

Accura
cy
1. Using the balance, measure the pre-weighed vials assigned to each group. 2.
Record the results. Repeat for three trials. Compute the mean and standard
deviation. 3. Ask the instructor about the true weight of the sample vial. 4.
Compute the percentage error.

Precisi
on
1. Weigh a clean and dry watch glass. Record the weight. 2. Get 1 teaspoon of
CuSO4 and place it on the watch glass, then weigh. Record the weight. 3. Remove
the sand from the watch glass; clean and dry the watch glass. 4. Repeat steps 1-3
for three trials. 5. Compute the standard deviation.

B. Measuring the
Volume

Accura
cy
1. Using a ruler, measure the inner dimensions (length, width and height) of an
empty tetra
pack (with the top side cut open). 2. Compute the volume of the tetra pack using the
measured dimensions. 3. Fill up the tetra pack with water. 4. Measure the volume of
the water used to fill the tetra pack by transferring the water carefully into a 100 mL
graduated cylinder. If the water fills up to the 100 mL mark, discard it to continue
measuring the remaining water in the tetra pack. 5. Repeat step 4 for three trials. 6.
Compute the percentage error based on labeled volume.

Precisi
on
1. Fill up the burette with water up to the 0 ml mark. 2. Run down water from the
burette into a 100-mL graduated cylinder, filling it up to the 20-
mL mark of the graduated cylinder. 3. Take note of the
final volume reading on the burette. 4. Compare the
volume readings. 5. Repeat for 3 trials and compute
the standard deviation.

C. Derived Measurement:
Density (ρ)

Density of
Water
1. Measure the mass of a clean dry 100-mL beaker. 2. Fill it up with 50
mL water and weigh. 3. Determine the density of water using the
formula: ρ = m/v 4. Compute the percentage error based on the
theoretical density of water.

Density of Liquid
Samples
1. Measure the mass of a clean, dry 100 mL beaker. 2. Collect 10 mL of
ethanol using a serological pipette 3. Transfer the ethanol into the beaker
measure the mass of the ethanol. 5. Compute the density of the sample. 6.
Compare the computed density with that of the theoretical density of
ethanol. 7. Repeat steps 1–6 using acetone and dichloromethane (DCM)

D. Calibration and
Conversion

1. Use a Pasteur pipette to fill up a 10-mL graduated cylinder up to the 5-mL mark.
2. Note the number of drops whenever the water level (lower meniscus) reaches
each mL
mark. 3. Get the average number of drops necessary to reach
each mL mark. 4. Label the dropper as to how many drops are
equivalent to 1 mL.

Clean
Up

• Clean and return all apparatus

used.
 • The CuSO4 used for mass can be returned to their bottles if maintained clean
and dry.
• Put the used tetra pack into the trash
can.
• The water can be poured into the
sink.

REFERENCES: [1] SKOOG, D.A., WEST, D.M., HOLLER, F.J., and CROUCH, S.R. (2014).

Fundamentals of analytical chemistry. 9th ed. International Edition. Belmon, CA: Brooks/Cole, Cengage
Learning.
EXPERIMENT 1 Pre-lab NUMBERS AND MEASUREMENT
Group number Section Score

Seat number Name Date

1. Research on the limitation of accuracy of the following

instruments:
a. analytical
balance

b. top-loading
balance

c. serological pipette

d. graduated
cylinder

e. burette

f. volumetric flask

g. Erlenmeyer
flask

h. beaker
 2. Define the term, “measurement uncertainty”. Among the instruments listed above, which
ones
have the highest uncertainty? Which ones have the
lowest?

3. Based on the measurement uncertainty of the above instruments, which instruments

would yield
the lowest percent
error?
EXPERIMENT 1 Data sheet NUMBERS AND MEASUREMENT

Group number Section Score

Seat number Name Date

B. Measuring the
Mass

Accura
cy

Trial 1 Trial 2 Trial 3

Experimental
weight

Average
(Mean)

Standard
deviation

Standard
weight

Percentage
Error
 Precisi
on

Trial 1 Trial 2 Trial 3

Mass of the watch

glass

Mass of sand and watch

glass

Mass of the
sand

Average
(Mean)

Standard
deviation

B. Measuring the
Volume

Accura
cy

Length of the tetra pack

(cm)

Width of the tetra pack

(cm)

Height of the tetra pack

(cm)
Volume based on
dimension
(L x W x
H)

Volume of water
contained
 Trial 1 Trial 2 Trial 3

Volume labeled on tetra

pack Percentage error vs.
volume calculated
(LxWxH) Percentage error
vs. volume collected (H2O
measurement)

Precisi
on

Trial 1 Trial 2 Trial 3

20 mL 20 mL 20 mL
Volume reading on the graduated cylinder
Volume reading on the burette

Average volume
(burette)

Volume
difference*

Standard
deviation

*difference in reading on graduated cylinder and on

burette

C. Derived Measurement:
Density (ρ)

Density of
Water

Mass of the
beaker
 Mass of water and
beaker

Mass of the
water

Volume of water in the beaker 50 mL

Experimental density of
water

Theoretical density of water 1.00 g/ml

Percentage error
Density of Liquid Samples
ethanol acetone dicholoromethane
Mass of beaker
Mass of beaker + sample
Mass of sample
Experimental density
Theoretical density
Percentage error
D. Calibration and Conversion
1st ml mark
2nd ml mark
3rd ml mark
4th ml mark
5th ml mark Number of drops used to reach 1- mL mark Average number of drops drops
Conversion Factor: 1 mL = ________ drops
How many drops of water will you dispense from the calibrated dropper if the procedure
requires 7 ml of water?
EXPERIMENT 1 Post-lab NUMBERS AND MEASUREMENT
Group number Section Score

Seat number Name Date

1. Can a set of data be accurate but not precise?

Explain.
2. During your experiment, what were the possible sources of error present that caused
inaccuracy of your data? What are the steps necessary to minimize these sources of error?

3. A reaction takes place and you expect to yield 250.5 g of product. However, after the
experiment, you have weighed out 253.2 g of product. What is the percent error for this
experiment? What are possible reasons for this?