EXPERIMENT 1

NUMBERS AND MEASUREMENT

Objectives

 Determine accurately and precisely the measurements of given samples using

different measuring instruments
 Report properly the data gathered from the measurements
 Derive values of some physical properties of the sample from base measurements

Introduction

Measurement is the quantitative expression of the observed physical property of matter. The
word "measurement" is derived from the Greek word "metron" which means a limited proportion.
Measurement provides a clear property of a matter which is readable and readily observable by
man. Oftentimes, the system of measurement used in science, industry, and medicine is the metric
system. The metric system is a decimal system in which measurements of each type are related by
factors of 10. Unlike the English system, the metric system has one standard unit for each type of
measurement. For example, the metric unit of length is the meter, whereas the English system of
measurement uses many units of length such as inch, foot, yard, and mile. The most common
metric units are listed in the table below.

Table 1.1. Examples of metric units.

Measurement Metric Unit Symbol
Length meter m
Mass gram g
Volume liter L
Temperature degrees Celsius, Kelvin °C; K
Time second s

A unit must always be included when reporting a measurement. For example, 5.0 m indicates
a quantity of 5.0 meters. Without the unit, the system of measurement used to obtain the number 5.0
will not be known. It could be seen as 5.0 feet, 5.0 kilometers, or 5.0 inches. Thus, a unit is required
to complete the measurement that is reported.

For larger and smaller measurements, prefixes are attached in front of the standard unit. Some
prefixes such as kilo are used for larger quantities; other prefixes such as milli are used for smaller
quantities. The most common prefixes are listed as follows:

Table 1.2. Some prefixes in the metric system.

Prefix Symbol Meaning
Kilo k 1000
Deci d 0.1 (1/10)
Centi c 0.01 (1/100)
Milli m 0.001 (1/1000)

International System of Units (SI Base Units)

There are seven SI base units for seven base quantities which are assumed to be
mutually independent.

Table 1.3. The seven SI base units.

Base Quantity Name Symbol

Length meter m
Mass kilogram kg
Time second s
Electric current ampere A
Temperature kelvin K
Amount of
mole mol
substance
Luminous
candela cd
intensity
SI Derived Units
Derived quantities are defined according to the seven base units through a system of
quantity relationships.

Table 1.4. Examples of SI derived quantities.

Derived Quantity Name Symbol

Area square meter m2
Volume cubic meter m3
Speed, velocity meter per second m/s
Acceleration meter per second squared m/s2
Wave number reciprocal meter m-1
Mass density kilogram per cubic meter kg/m3
Specific volume cubic meter per kilogram m3/kg
Current density ampere per square meter A/m2
Magnetic field strength ampere per meter A/m
Amount-of-substance
mole per cubic meter mol/m3
concentration
Luminance candela per square meter cd/m2
Mass fraction kilogram per kilogram kg/kg

Conversion of Unit of Measurement

When treating data, it is important to use uniform units of measurements. There are cases
wherein some principles or equations would require a specific unit of measure. For these reasons
it is important to know how to convert units of measurement. The following are set of rules in
order to convert a given unit of measure to another. For example, 25.0 pounds (lbs) needs to be
converted to kilograms (kg).

1. Take note of the units for the conversion.

25.0 lbs  kg

2. Determine the common conversion factor for these units.

In this case, 1 kg = 2.2 lbs

3. Multiply the given measure with the factor. Be sure that the factor is arranged in such a way
that the given unit will be cancelled out.

 1 kg  The desired unit is the numerator and the

25.0 lbs    given unit is the denominator.
 2.20 lbs 
 4. Perform the operation to determine the converted measurement.
25.0
 11.4 kg therefore, 25.0 lbs = 11.4 kg
2.20

5. The procedure above does not apply to temperature. It follows a different conversion
method.

To convert: 0
F  0C 0
C = (oF - 32)(5/9)
0
C  0F o
F = (9/5)0C + 32
0
CK K = 0C + 273.15

Accuracy vs. Precision

Accuracy and precision are used in the context of measurement.

Accuracy
 Accuracy is an expression of how
close a measured value is to the
actual (true) value.
 It may be determined by single
measurement.
 Measurements are very close to the
standard, true or known values.
 The farther a measurement is from its
expected value, the less accurate it is.
Precision
 Precision is an expression of how
close the measured values are to each
other.
 It may be determined through several
measurements.
 It is a measure of the reliability and
reproducibility the experiment.
 If such observations are closely
clustered together, then, these
observations are considered to have
been obtained with high precision.

There is no perfect measurement. A measurement system can be accurate but not precise;
precise but not accurate; neither precise nor accurate; or both precise and accurate. The best is to
come as close as possible within the limitations of the measuring instruments.

The percentage error is used to determine the accuracy of the result.

True value - Experiment al value

% error  100
True value

On the other hand, standard deviation is usually employed to determine the precision of
the measurement data.
where: x = data
s
 x  x  2
x = mean
n 1 n = number of data
s = standard deviation
Materials
 baking soda droppers
fine sand triple beam balance
table salt pre-weighed vials with sand
water thermometer
watch glass masking tape
buret
10-mL beaker ruler
10-mL graduated cylinder tetra pack
100-mL graduated cylinder
10-mL serological pipette

Procedure

A. Measuring the Mass

Accuracy
1. Using the balance, measure the pre-weighed vials assigned to each group.
2. Record the results.
3. Ask the instructor about the true weight of the sample vial.
4. Compute the percentage error.
Precision
1. Weigh a clean and dry watch glass. Record the weight.
2. Get 1 teaspoon of fine sand 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 twice over to give three trials.
5. Compare the data. Compute the standard deviation.

B. Measuring the Volume

Accuracy
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. Calculate the volume of the tetra pack from the volume of water used to fill it.
4. Compare the two volumes measured. Compute the percentage error.

Precision
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. Make 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 Solid Samples

1. Place a spoonful of baking soda in a small cellophane bag and pack it tightly before sealing
it. Be sure that there is no trapped air inside the bag.
2. Measure the weight of the packed baking soda.
3. Fill up a 100-mL graduated cylinder with water up to the 50-mL mark.
4. Place the packed baking soda into the graduated cylinder with water. Tap the cylinder
gently to remove any bubbles adhering on the surface of the plastic. Record the rise in
volume of the water.
5. Compute the density of the sample. (Assume that the mass and volume of the plastic are
negligible.)
6. Compare the computed density with that of the theoretical density of baking soda.
(NaHCO3). Compute the percentage error.
7. Repeat steps 1–6 using finely ground table salt (NaCl) instead of baking soda.

D. Calibration and Conversion

1. Use a dropper 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
 Return all apparatuses used.
 The baking soda, salt and sand may be returned to their respective containers since they
can be used again.
 Put the used tetra pack and cellophane bag into the trash can.
 The water can be poured into the sink.
EXPERIMENT 1 Data sheet
NUMBERS AND MEASUREMENT

Group number Section Score

Seat number Name Date

A. Measuring the Mass

Accuracy
Theoretical mass
Measured mass
Percentage error

Precision

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

Accuracy

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 used for filling

Percentage error
Precision
 Trial 1 Trial 2 Trial 3
Volume reading on the
20 mL 20 mL 20 mL
graduated cylinder
Volume reading on the
burette
Average volume (burette)

Volume difference*

Standard deviation

*difference in reading on graduated cylinder and on burette

Based on the results, what does the percentage error indicate?

What are the possible sources of error encountered?

Based on the results, are the measurements precise?

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 Solid Samples

Baking Soda Table Salt

Initial volume of water in the
graduated cylinder
Final volume of water in the
graduated cylinder

Volume of displaced water

Mass of the solid sample

Experimental density

Theoretical density 2.71 g/ml 2.16 g/ml

Percentage error

What does the volume of water displaced indicates? What is this technique called?

What are the limitations of this technique?

D. Calibration and Conversion

1st ml 2nd ml 3rd ml 4th ml 5th ml

mark mark mark mark mark
Number of drops
used to reach 1-
mL mark
Average number
of drops drops
Conversion Factor: 1 mL = ________ drops

How will you measure the volume of a liquid if volumetric apparatuses are not available?

How many drops of water will you dispense from the calibrated dropper if the procedure requires
7 ml of water?