Accuracy and Precision

Accuracy

 is a measure of how close a measurement is to the correct or accepted value

of the quantity being measured.
 is how close you are to the true value

Note: The true value is sometimes called the theoretical value.

For example, let’s say you know your true height is exactly 5’9″.

 You measure yourself with a yardstick and get 5’0″. Your measurement
is not accurate.
 You measure yourself again with a laser yardstick and get 5’9″. Your
measurement is accurate.

Precision

 is a measure of how close a series of measurements are to one another.

 is how close two or more measurements are to each other.
 If you consistently measure your height as 5’0″ with a yardstick, your
measurements are precise.

If you want to tell which set of data is more precise, measure the range (the
difference between the highest and lowest scores).

For example, let’s say you had the following two sets of data:

 Sample A: 32.56, 32.55, 32.48, 32.49, 32.48.

 Sample B: 15.38, 15.37, 15.36, 15.33, 15.32.

Subtract the lowest data point from the highest:

 Sample A: 32.56 – 32.48 = .08.

 Sample B: 15.38 – 15.32 = .06.

Sample B has the lowest range (.06) and so is the more precise.

More Examples

Accurate and precise:

If a weather thermometer reads 75oF outside and it really is 75oF, the
thermometer is accurate. If the thermometer consistently registers the exact
temperature for several days in a row, the thermometer is also precise.

Precise, but not accurate:

A refrigerator thermometer is read ten times and registers degrees Celsius
as: 39.1, 39.4, 39.1, 39.2, 39.1, 39.2, 39.1, 39.1, 39.4, and 39.1. However,
the real temperature inside the refrigerator is 37 degrees C. The thermometer
isn’t accurate (it’s almost two degrees off the true value), but as the
numbers are all close to 39.2, it is precise.
 Example Scenario

When a scale was used to take six successive measurements of a person’s

mass, the following data were recorded. 59.85 kg 59.70 kg 59.91 kg 59.73
kg 59.94 kg 59.91 kg

The balance had earlier been tested against a set of official reference standard
masses and found to me working exceptionally well. The true value of the mass was
verified as 59.86 kg.

a) What is the precise measurement? ______________

b) What is the % error of the average measurement? ______________
c) What is the specific problem when a measurement is known to be in
error? ____________
d) Which measurement is the most accurate? _________________

Scenario 1

A sample of coconut oil was given to ten analysis for the determination of
saponification value.
The following results were received.

261 251 250 258 256

258 259 260 256 251

The true saponification value was verified as 255

a) What is the precise measurement? ______________

b) What is the % error of the average measurement? ______________
c) Which measurement is the most accurate? _________________
d) Is the average measurement accurate? Why?
________________________________________________________________

Scenario 2

The analysis of certificate of shipment of Cu showed % CU – 14.66. When the

ore arrived at the refinery, it was analyzed with the following results: 14.58
14.61 14.69 14.64

a) What is the precise measurement? ______________

b) What is the % error of the average measurement? ______________
c) Should the refiner accept the ore? Why?
________________________________________________________________

Scenario 3

A clinical laboratory evaluating the new method for determining

phenylalanine in the whole blood of newborns obtained replicate values (in mg per
mL of blood): 0.0682 0.0677 0.0685 0.0679 mg/mL
The same sample analyzed try acceoted standard method produced a mean of
0.0687mg/mL.

a) What is the precise measurement? ______________

b) What is the % error of the average measurement? ______________
c) Is the new method od determining phenylalanine in the blood of
newborns are accurate as the standard method? Explain.
________________________________________________________________

Scenario 4

Two methods of measurements of the concentration of an aqueous HCl solution

gave different average values even after repeating the experiment many times

Method A: HCl concentration = 1.82 error = ±0.02

Method B: HCl concentration = 1.74 error = ±0.06

a) Which method is more accurate? Explain.

________________________________________________________________
 Errors in Measurement

Human Error - Perhaps you are transferring a small volume from one tube to
another and you don’t quite get the full amount into the second tube because you
spilled it

Technical Error

 Random Error
- occur periodically, with no recognizable pattern
- naturally occurred error
- unpredictable
- do not follow pattern
o Gross error – broken instrument
o Percentage error – less than 1 is accurate ; more than 1 is
precise.

Error = true value – observed value

% Error = true value – observed value x 100

true value

If no true value, it is not accurate but precise.

 Systematic Error
- occurs when there is a problem with the instrument.
- miscalibrated measurement/instrument
o Offset error – the measurement doesn’t start in zero
o Scale factor error – measure is proportional

For example, a scale could be improperly calibrated and read 0.5 g

with nothing on it. All measurements would therefore be overestimated by
0.5 g. Unless you account for this in your measurement, your measurement
will contain some error.

Factors Affecting Accuracy

1) Vibration
2) Human Error
3) Temperature
4) Chemical Reaction
5) Air Pressure
6) Cluttered Surroundings
7) Calibration

Evidences of Chemical Reaction

1) Temperature
2) Change in Intrinsic Properties
3) Evolution of gas
4) Precipitation
5) Production of light
Factors of Chemical Change
1) Temperature
2) Surface Area
3) Concentration
4) Catalyst
Types of Chemical Change
1) Single displacement AB + C  AC + B
2) Double displacement AB + CD  AC + BD
3) Acid-base reaction CO2 + H2O
4) Decomposition HCl HBr
5) Combination A + B  AB