Evaluation of procedures:

Precision The precision of each of the measurements you made is indicated by

the % uncertainty calculated.
Accuracy The accuracy of an overall result (concentration of acid) means how
close it is to the ‘true’ value.
It is possible to make very precise measurements but still end up with
an inaccurate result because of a weakness in the procedure.
Reliable You repeat measurements and if they are close then they are said to
be reliable. A single measurement could be an outlier.
Limitation This is a stage in the procedure which could have led to an inaccuracy
in the overall result (concentration of acid).
 A little book of tips for titrations.

• Recording results
• Calculating the average titre
• Evaluation of results
• Evaluation of procedures

Recording results and calculating the average/mean titre:

Titration Rough 1 2 3 4 5
Final burette reading/cm3 22.00 43.85 22.95
Initial burette reading/cm3 0.00 22.00 1.00
Titre/cm3 22.00 T 21.85 √ 21.95 √

Average titre = 21.85 + 21.95 / 2 = 21.90 (quote to 2 decimal places)

Titration Rough 1 2 3 4 5
Final burette reading/cm3 22.00 43.85 23.15 44.10
Initial burette reading/cm3 0.00 22.00 1.00 22.15
Titre/cm3 22.00 T 21.85 √ 22.15 √ 21.95 √

Average titre = 21.85 + 22.15 + 21.95 / 3 = 21.98 (there is a rule that you use any titres
within a 0.3cm3 range of the concordant titres to calculate the average)

What is the average titre?

• 21.10 + 21.50 + 21.20?

Evaluation has two aspect – evaluation of measurements and

evaluation of procedures (same as GCSE now)
Evaluation of results:
 We look at how precise the measurements are. We look at the uncertainty associated with a
measurement (sometimes called the precision error). Then we calculate the percentage
uncertainty (sometimes called the percentage error).

Percentage uncertainty (percentage error) = uncertainty (precision error) x 100

reading

For graduated equipment the uncertainty / precision error is taken to be half a division on
either side of the smallest unit on the scale you are using. For volumetric (or ungraduated)
measuring equipment you use the precision error associated with it.

Using the balance:

The uncertainty associated with a two decimal place balance reading = ±0.005g

The percentage uncertainty associated with a reading of 119.06g = 0.005 x 100 = 0.004%
119.06

The uncertainty associated with the difference between two balance readings = 2 x 0.005 =
±0.010g

The percentage uncertainty in weighing out a mass of 2.56g = 0.010 x 100 = 0.4%
2.56

Using the 250cm3 volumetric flask:

The uncertainty associated with a volumetric flask reading = ±0.2cm3

The percentage uncertainty associated with volumetric flask reading = 0.2 x 100 = 0.08%
250

Using the 25cm3 pipette:

The uncertainty associated with a pipette reading = ±0.06cm3

The percentage uncertainty associated with pipette reading = 0.06 x 100 = 0.2%
25

Using the burette:

The uncertainty associated with a burette readings = ±0.05cm3

The percentage uncertainty associated with a reading of 25.85cm3 = 0.05 x 100 = 0.2%
25.85

The uncertainty associated with the difference between two burette readings (a titre)
= 2 x 0.05 = ±0.10cm3

The percentage uncertainty in measuring out a volume of 25.85cm3 = 0.10 x 100 = 0.4%
25.85