CHEMISTRY

SATE 2019
Unit 1: Chemical fundamentals — structure, properties and reactions

Student Experiment

Heading
Homework
• Error - Read pages 229 -232
• Significant figures - Read pages 240-241
 KNOW
• appreciate that quantitative data obtained from measurements is always associated with random error/measurement
uncertainties
• communicate measurement uncertainties as a range (±) to an appropriate precision
• understand that propagation of random error in data processing shows the impact of measurement uncertainties on the
final result
• calculate the measurement uncertainties in processed data, including the use of absolute uncertainties and percentage
uncertainties
DO
• Use significant figures for your Student Experiment data
• Calculate absolute error for your Student Experiment data

Heading
Using EXCEL to produce tables
Raw Data table
• Independent and dependent values
• Independent values in trend
• Titles, units, absolute error in headings
• Insert data
Significant Figures
• 15cm is different to 15.0cm in science experiments
• 15 has 2 sf while 15.0 has 3 sf
• Significant figures express the degree of accuracy of the measurements
Significant Figures
Rules Examples
All non- zero figures are significant 3.18 has three significant figures (3sf)
All zeros sandwiched between non- zeros are 30.08 has4sf
significant
Zeros to the right of a non- zero figure but to the left 109 000 has 3 sf (the 109).
of the decimal point are not significant (unless The rest just indicate where the decimal place is. If
specified with a bar): you wanted to show that the second zero from the
right is significant, you could write 109 0¯ 0 0 (5sf).
Zeros to the right of a decimal point but to the left of a 0.050 has 2 sf. Only the last zero is significant. The first
non- zero figure are not zero merely says
significant where the decimal point is.
Zeros to the right of the decimal point and following a 304.50 has5sf
non- zero figure are
significant
Significant Figures for experimental data
• You need to look at your data and check you have the correct number of
spaces after the decimal point
Using EXCEL to produce tables
Calculations
• Copy raw data table and paste to new page
• Add columns for change in mass, change in temperature and any other
information required for calculations
Significant Figures rules for calculations
Multiplying and dividing
When multiplying or dividing, the answer should contain only as many significant figures
as the number in the operation that has the least number of significant figures.
Addition and subtraction
Calculations are rounded to the least significant decimal place value in the data.
Error Analysis
• All experimental measurements should be analysed for quality to determine the precision and accuracy of your results.
• Continuous data is never exact, they have an amount of uncertainty due to the equipment used
Error Analysis
• Uncertainty in a printed scale measuring device is equal to a half- scale division.
• Uncertainty in a digital measuring device is equal to the smallest increment.
Type of Equipment Absolute Smallest Absolute
equipment uncertainty increment uncertainty
marked on
equipment
Measuring ±0.5mL ±0.5
cylinder
Printed scale Flask 50mL ±25
Thermometer 1 ̊C ±0.5
Electronic balance 0.01g ±0.01
Digital device Digital 0.1 ̊C ±0.1
thermometer
INTERPRETATION AND EVALUATION
CRITERIA
• Insightful interpretation
justified conclusions linked to research question
• Critical evaluation of experimental investigation
Justified discussion of reliability and validity
Suggested improvements and extensions based on analysis of evidence
COMMUNICATION CRITERIA
• Effective communication
Fluent and concise use of scientific language
Genre conventions
referencing
TRENDS, PATTERNS AND
RELATIONSHIPS
• Trend – general direction in which something is changing
• Pattern – a repeated occurrence or sequence
• Relationship – a connection or association between ideas or
components of systems and structures
TRENDS, PATTERNS AND
RELATIONSHIPS
• A trend has been stated for each graph
e.g. Graph 1 indicates that as the concentration of the electrolyte (KOH)
increased, the time taken to produce 25 mL of hydrogen gas decreased.
This appears to be an exponential relationship, which suggests that
there is a first-order relationship between concentration of the
electrolyte and rate of hydrogen production.
TRENDS, PATTERNS AND
RELATIONSHIPS
• A trend has been given for the accuracy of the results
e.g. Comparing the experimental number of moles calculated for each
[KOH] (Table 4) with the theoretical moles of hydrogen gas allows the
accuracy of the experimental results and, therefore, the validity of the
experimental process to be evaluated. As the [KOH] increases, the
accuracy of the results determined decreased.
LIMITATIONS, RELIABIITY AND
VALIDITY
• Types of error
• Random Error: is error in measurement caused by factors which vary from
one measurement to another. The effect of random error is usually reduced
when observations are averaged.
• Eg a different person filled the measuring cylinder each time and did not take
into account the meniscus each time
• Eg – when measuring the final temperature the person did not always wait for
the thermometer to stabilise
• Systematic Error: is error in measurement that is consistently varied from an
actual. The effect of systematic error is not reduced when observations are
averaged.
LIMITATIONS, RELIABIITY AND
VALIDITY
• Quality of primary data collected
Look at raw data table- compare difference in trials to uncertainity
• Precision of equipment used
Does one piece of equipment contribute more uncertainty that another piece?
• Other issues with how experiment was conducted
Something else that causes the measurements to be inaccurate eg systematic
error – this means the same problem occurred throughout the experiment
CONCLUSION
• Link research question with data collected and use scientific
knowledge to explain them
IMPROVEMENTS AND EXTENSIONS
• This table contains all of the items listed in the limitations of evidence
table
• You need to explain how you would change the experiment to reduce
the impact of these limitatons
COMMUNICATION

• Genre – report headings, labelling tables and graphs

• Use correct terminology
• Bibliography
• Word count - concise