Experiment#1

Calibration of Glassware

Principle:

Instrument calibration is one of the primary processes used to

maintain instrument accuracy. Calibration is the process of configuring
an instrument to provide a result for a sample within an acceptable range. The goal
of calibration is to minimize any measurement uncertainty by ensuring the
accuracy of test equipment. Calibration quantifies and controls errors or
uncertainties within measurement processes to an acceptable level.

We can calibrate several instruments used in laboratory such as beaker, measuring

cylinder, flask, pipette, burette etc

Apparatus

 Beaker
 Distilled water
 Thermometer
 Analytical balance

Procedure

1. Select a suitable sized beaker (100 ml),

carefully clean and rinse the cylinder with deionized water.
2. Determine the empty mass of the selected beaker on analytical balance.
3. Note the volume of the deionized water and also measure the temperature.
4. Fill the beaker with deionized water up to the mark. Record indicated volume
from the cylinder.
5. For total volume of water dispensed, record the total mass. Now discard the
water from the beaker and refill it to repeat the procedure.
6. For each set of calibration data, determine volume of water dispersed by
dividing total mass of the water to density of water at that temperature.
7. Determine difference in volumes by subtracting calculated volume of water
from indicated volume.
8. The experiment is repeated 10 times in order to obtain concordant readings.

Precautions

 Do not use broken glassware’s as it can injure.

 When washing take special care so that it does not break on striking wash
basin walls
 When shaking a volumetric flask, hold both neck and bottom using both
hands to prevent breakage
 Remove the stopper from volumetric flask before oven drying
 Maintain constant temperature during calibration and use calibrated weights
 At time of calibration, ensure no air bubbles are sticking to the glass walls
and no water droplets exist above the graduation mark
Observations and Calculations

Sr. no xi x̅-xi (x̅-xi)2

1. 49.567 0.263 0.069
2. 51.772 -1.942 3.771
3. 49.601 0.229 0.052
4. 48.421 1.409 1.985
5. 49.599 0.231 0.053
6. 49.610 0.220 0.048
 7. 49.834 -0.004 0.000016
8. 51.614 -1.784 3.183
9. 49.478 0.352 0.124
10. 48.799 1.031 1.063
Σxi=498.295 Σ(x̅-xi)2=10.348

n=10
Σx i 498.295
Mean= x̅= n = 10
= 49.830

In order to calculate standard deviation, we have to use this formula:

Σ( x̅ −x i)2
S=
√
±

N −1

10.348
S=
√
±

S = √± 1.1498 = ±1.073
Result
We find out the standard deviation of beaker that is ±1.073.