Basic Concepts PRE-LAB

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Metropolitan Community College, Omaha *

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1220

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Chemistry

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Jan 9, 2024

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Name _Z{)KOL’] (PN B ]0\b Date Experiment Basic Concepts in Measurements Objectives: «+ To become familiar with the use of laboratory instruments and procedures. + To become familiar with the concepts of precision and accuracy in making measurements Introduction Many of the experiments you will be performing in this course depend upon measurements. This laboratory exerci?e vyflcl‘ emphasize several aspects of making measurements, in particular accuracy, precision, uncertainty and the correct use of uni of measurement. Many measurements involve determining the mass and/or volume of a sample of matter. No matter how carefully you carry out the measurement and no matter how carefully you read the measuring instrument, there will always be some uncertainty in the measurement. In other words, no measurement is perfectly accurate. The quality of your measurements is stated in terms of accuracy and precision. The accuracy of a measurement is how close that measurement is to the true or “exact” value. Suppose a standard weight has a mass of 5.00 g. Two students determine the mass of the weight and report their mass values as 4.98 g and 5.12 g. The value of 4.98 g has a greater accuracy than the 5.12 g but this is only known because the true mass of the weight is known. In most experimental situations, the true mass of an object is not previously known. Accuracy is also subject to the reliability of the measuring instrument. Many instruments are thus calibrated to make sure that the measured value is as accurate as possible for that particular instrument. For example, a student is asked to measure the length of an object and the plastic ruler chosen to make the measurement has been lying in the sun and has become warped. This ruler would obviously not give an accurate reading. Precision relates the degree of reproducibility of the measurement. Precision increases with how fine the divisions or segments are which increases the repeatability of the results. Precise measurements are a set that has very little scatter which could also be stated as repeat measurements that give more or less the same value. If the measured data have high precision but poor accuracy, one may suspect that a systematic bias has been introduced, e.g., we are using an instrument where the zero position has not been set properly. If we do not know the expected value of a measurement but are trying to determine just that, it is obviously better to have accurate observations with poor precision than very precise, but inaccurate values, since the former will give a correct, but imprecise estimate while the latter will give a wrong, but very precise result! "Accuracy is telling the truth . . . Precision is telling the same story over and over again." Yiding Wang, yiwang@mtu.edu The value of the measurement is dependent upon the measuring instrument itself and how well the measurement is carried out using that particular measuring instrument. Frequently the values you determine as your measurements are then used in subsequent calculations so optimally it is best to strive for a measurement that is both precise and accurate. There are three types of direct measurements to be made in this experiment: length, volume and mass. For each type of measurement there are different units which are used to indicate what property is measured and to indicate the size of the sample. For example the milliliter (mL) and the liter (L) both measure volume but a liter is a much greater size sample. For all of the science experiments performed in this course, the metric system will be used.
Name Date Using Mass Measurements Th‘_& metric unit for measuring mass is the gram (g), which is about one-thirtieth of an ounce. The mass of an object can easily be measured on a laboratory balance. There are two types of balances commonly used in a laboratory, a multiple- beam balance and a single pan automatic balance. On a multiple-beam balance, the beam of the balance rests on a fuicrum or knife edge. A panto hold the object to be measured is placed on one end of the beam and a set of movable weights is placed on the opposite end. Before an object can be measured, the pointer on the end of the balance must be aligned with the zero mark. This can be accomplished by turning the counterweight adjustment knob on one end of the beam until the beam pointerindicates zero. The balance pan must be empty and all the weights must be at zero for calibration. (_)noe the object is placed on the balance, the pan = containing the object will go down. The weights are slid = across the beam until the balance is again at zero and the mass is read from the combination of the weights used. In the figure to the right, the mass of a can of diet Mountain Dew is being determined. The beam in the rear measures in 10 gram increments, the beam in the center measures in 100 gram increments and the front beam measures in 1 gram increments with the 0.1 gram increments marked. The total mass of the can of diet Mountain Dew is shown to the right. Reading the beams, the center (greatest mass) weight is at the 300 gram notch, the rear weight is at the 70 gram notch and the front weight is slightly past the 3.3 gram notch. Since these are all indicated by graduations on the balance, they are certain digits. The measurement will also include one uncertain digit so the final mass of the can of diet Mountain Dew would be expressed as 373.33 g or 373.34gor373.35g. The second type of balance is a single pan automatic balance. The mass of the object is displayed in digital form in the window on the front of the balance. The balance is automatically zeroed when turned on and then can be re-zeroed using the zero button on the balance. This type of balance can have a precision/ accuracy represented from two to four decimal places. Regardless of the type of balance being used to determine the mass of an object, the following precautions must be observed: « The balance must be level and placed on a vibration-free surface. « Do not move the balance around during use. « Do not place any reagents or containers with wet exteriors directly on the balance pan. Use a secondary container like a beaker or a weighing boat/paper to contain your sample. « Record a measured mass directly into your notebook, not on a scrap of paper which could be lost. « Always leave the balance pan clean. If some reagent is inadvertently spilled on the balance pan, either clean up the spill or notify the instructor. « Always weigh your sample at room temperature. In choosing a balance, consider that they both measure the mass but the accuracy/precision of the two types of balances may be different. One reason for this is that the beam balance is more susceptible to human judgment whereas the 2
Name Date Pre-Laboratory Questions 1. 2 rly explain the difference between acguracy and precision when making measurements. am»mc; 5 \naw e is to e ok Unlue. Preainn £ i e &eefivu ok wwz)n\f)udbfl} A mugumary Why should any measurement data, along with the identifying information about a sample (solid block, solution, metal rod, etc.) be recorded immediately in your laboratory manual and not on a scrap of paper or recorded later when all measurements have been made? s _nob Joy, Yemembered Luong ar jn {he lo\bom\'urb w1 anval were it con e Poond If you place a stone on a balance to determine its mass, would you consider your measurement to be accurate? Explain your answer. Ys it b done comey and dne Vol S rohr T weu\a Qe i+ Qo P J You have an object that you want to identify. Questions a. - c. are designed to help you achieve this objective. The object was carefully weighed by five different individuals on a multiple-beam balance. The balance was zeroed between each measurement. The masses were 11.36 g, 11.37 g, 11.40 g, 11.38 g and 11.39 grams. Show all your calculations in answering the questions. a. Calculate the average value for the mass of that object based on these measurements. Show your work and underline your final answer. 1136 + 1374 Ny A WBF=H55)1:4 - (133 b. Calculate the standard deviation for this set of measurements listed in question 4a. Show all your work and nderline your final answer. . dardard diaton = range _ (highest value - lowest value) WN WN 8 1Yo~ 1136 L1 c. What is the percent variation among your measured samples if % variation: 2001 X100% = average _O’QL_ © [00]° 135 X 1009, 0 .000837973x100% d. How would you describe the precision of the measurements? Explain your answer. Thy gt yur the shongest o dhey problaley @n't e g R ——
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Name Date 5. Record the volume in each of the following measuring instruments using the correct number of significant digits. Be careful to read the volume correctly. 40 30 IHIIIII IIH(IIH ’2' 2 mL == a ——25 == =220 == = =10 = bl 6. What is the mass on the following triple beam balances? e = = T 57 ——— - sy _ 1 0 4 w | H|m:|u J Balance A 30 40 |||[|lll&lh|[|lllj” i 0| f gxm]mléuuu 1 Balance C { 300 400 500 5 DS TR W 5 { 3 40 50 mJ Balance B The mass shown on balance A is 65 .7 The mass shown on balance B is 5459 The mass shown on balance C is 2354. & mL