Name: Dominic Davis

Class: Upper Six A

Date: 27/11/20

Lab#: 3

Title: Analytical Chemistry: Sensitivity of Measuring Instruments

Aim: To compare sensitivity of a measuring cylinder and a burette

Apparatus and Materials:

1. 50cm3 burette

2. 10cm3 measuring cylinder

3. Distilled Water

Method

1. The burette was filled to the zero mark with distilled water.
2. 25 drops of water were transferred (dropwise) into the measuring cylinder. The new burette
reading was recorded to the nearest 0.05mL. The reading of the measuring cylinder was
recorded to the nearest 0.2mL.
3. This process was repeated in periods of 25 drops until 200 drops were delivered to the
measuring cylinder.
4. All appropriate results were tabulated.
5. A graph of the volume of burette against volume in the measuring cylinder was drawn.
6. A line of best fit was drawn.
7. The standard deviation between the volumes in the burette and the measuring cylinder was
calculated.
Diagram

Results
Treatment of Results
Burette Volume x−x́ ( x−x́ )2 Standard Deviation
(cm3) or x 2

1.15 -0.1 0.01

√ ∑ ( x −x́ )
n−1

2.00 0.75 0.5625

1.20 -0.05 0.0025

1.30 0.05 0.0025

0.80 -0.45 0.2025

1.05 -0.2 0.04

1.25 0 0
1.25 0 0

Average 1.25
2
Volume ( x́ ) ∑ ( x− x́ ) =0.91 +0.3605

TABLE SHOWING STANDARD DEVIATION OF BURETTE READINGS

Treatment of Results
Measuring Volume x−x́ ( x−x́ )2 Standard Deviation
Cylinder (cm3) or x 2

1.40 0.175 0.030625

√ ∑ ( x −x́ )
n−1

1.2 -0.025 0.000625

1.4 0.175 0.030625

1.2 -0.025 0.000625

0.80 -0.4525 0.204766
1.20 -0.025 0.000625
1.20 -0.025 0.000625

1.4 0.175 0.030625

Average Volume 1.225

2
( x́ ) ∑ ( x− x́ ) =0.299141 +0.2067

TABLE SHOWING STANDARD DEVIATION OF MEASURING CYLINDER READINGS

The graph of Volume of water delivered from the Burette against Volume of
water in measuring cylinder is as follows:
Calculations

1.

a. The Average Volume is given by

of theVolumes recorded∈each 25 drop period

3
V avg ( cm )= (∑ Total ¿ )
of 25 drop periods ¿ cm
3

V avg =( 1.15+2.00+1.20+1.30+8 0.80+1.05+1.25+1.25 ) cm =1.25 cm3 3

a. By taking the average volume of water delivered from the Burette as the Experimental
Value, we calculate the absolute and relative error of the measurements made by the
Burette as follows:

( Absolute Error)Burette =(Experimental Value)Burette−( Accepted Value)Burette

( Absolute Error)Burette =1.25−1=+ 0.25 cm3

( Absolute Error) Burette

(%Relative Error)Burette =
| |
( Accepted Value)Burette
×100

0.25 cm3
(%Relative Error)Burette = |
1cm3 |
×100=25 %

a. The standard deviation of the volumes of water delivered from the burette is as follows:

( x− x́ )2
σ=
√
n−1

(−0.1 )2 +(0.75)2+(0.75)2+(0.05)2 +(−0.45)2 +(−0.2)2 +(0)2+(0)2

σ=
√ 7

σ burette=± 0.3605 cm3

 1. For the volume of water in the measuring cylinder: (Using readings from the Measuring
Cylinder)

a. The Average Volume is given by

of theVolumes recorded∈each 25 drop period

3
V avg ( cm )= (∑ Total ¿ )
of 25 drop periods ¿ cm
3

( 1.40+1.20+1.40+1.20+8 0.80+ 1.20+1.20+1.40 ) cm =1.225 cm

V avg = 3 3

b. By taking the average volume of water delivered to the measuring cylinder as the
Experimental Value, we calculate the absolute and relative error of the measurements
made by the Measuring Cylinder (MC) as follows:

( Absolute Error)MC =(Experimental Value)MC −( Accepted Value) MC

( Absolute Error)MC =1.225−1=+ 0.225 cm3

( Absolute Error )MC

(%Relative Error)MC =
| |
( Accepted Value) MC
×100

+ 0.225 cm3
(%Relative Error)MC = | 1 cm3 |×100=22.5 %
c. The standard deviation of the volumes of water delivered to the measuring cylinder is as
follows:

( x− x́ )2
σ=
√n−1

( 0.175 )2 +(−0.025)2+(0.175)2 +(−0.025)2 +(−0.4525)2 +(−0.025)2+(−0.025)2 +( 0.175)2

σ=
√ 7

σ MC =± 0.2067 cm3
Graph

1. The following graphs were plotted on the same axis:

a. Burette readings against the number of drops of water

b. Measuring cylinder readings against the number of drops of water

1.

c. The gradient of Line A(Burette Readings) IN THE GRAPH- “GRAPH SHOWING VOLUME OF
WATER IN MEASURING INSTRUMENTS V.S DROPS OF WATER REDCORDED” is as follows:

Using the points (125, 6.45) and (150, 7.5)

Gradient=¿ ¿
(7.5−6.45)
Gradient= =0.042cm3 /drops
(150−125)

d. The gradient of Line B(Measuring Cylinder Reading)- “GRAPH SHOWING VOLUME OF

WATER IN MEASURING INSTRUMENTS V.S DROPS OF WATER REDCORDED” is as follows:

Using the points (150, 7) and (175, 8.2)

Gradient=¿ ¿
(5.2−4.00)
Gradient= =0.048 cm3 /drop s
(100−75)

Data Analysis
 1. From the graph 4 cm3 of water delivered from the Burette corresponds to 78.75 drops.

Using the formula:

3 Vol of Water∈ Measuring Cylinder (cm3)

Gradient of Graph B (cm /drops)=
No . of drops

Vol of water ∈measuring cylinder ( cm3 ) =( No. of drops ) ×(Gradient of Graph B)

3 cm 3 3
Vol of water ∈measuring cylinder cm =78 .7 5 drops × 0.048
( ) =3.7 8 cm
drops

Hence, when 4 cm3 of water is delivered from the Burette, 3.72 cm 3 of water is in the
measuring cylinder

2. From the graph, 8.2 cm3 of water delivered from the burette corresponds to 167.5 drops.

Using the formula:

Vol of water ∈measuring cylinder ( cm3 ) =( No. of drops ) ×(Gradient of Graph B)

3 cm3 3
Vol of water ∈measuring cylinder cm =16 7.5 drops× 0.048
( ) =8.0 2 cm
drops

Therefore, when 8.2 cm3 of water is delivered from the burette, the measuring cylinder reads
8.02cm3.

3. From the analysis of the information gathered, we can conclude that the measuring cylinder
is the instrument which is considered to be more precise, rather than the burette.

4. Upon examination of the information gathered, we can determine that the measuring
cylinder is also accurate, over the burette.
5.

a. In question 3, the measuring cylinder was considered to be more precise. Precision can be
defined as a measure of the degree of variation between the measured values, where
high precision is indicated by little variation of such measured values. Hence, a low
standard deviation implies lower variation between the measured values, which
indicates high precision. The standard deviation of the volumes of water delivered from
the measuring cylinder was found to be ±0.2067cm3, which is lower than that of the
volume of water delivered to the burette, ±+0.3605cm3, therefore the measuring
cylinder was considered to be more precise.
b. For question 4 the burette was considered accurate over the measuring cylinder. Accuracy
can be defined as a measure of the proximity of the measured values from the
true/accepted value, where a high accuracy is determined by a closer proximity to the
true/accepted value. Hence, a low % relative error indicates a closer proximity of the
measured value from the true/accepted value which implies high accuracy. So therefore
since the % relative error of the volumes of water delivered from the measuring cylinder
was found to be 22.5%, which is lower than that of the burette which was 25%, the
measuring cylinder was considered more accurate.
SOURCES OF ERROR:

1. The burette may have been slightly bent and not straightened when taking measurements.

2. The volume of water in each drop of the burette may not have been consistent and may have
varied with each drop.

PRECAUTIONS:

1. Special care was taken when handling glass instruments to avoid damage.

2. The burette was secured in the retort stand for safe recording of measurements.

3. Special care was taken to ensure the measuring cylinder was positioned properly under the
Burette to avoid spillage.

CONCLUSION:

In conclusion, it was determined that the measuring cylinder was more sensitive than the burette as the
measuring cylinder’s graph had a gradient of 0.048 cm3/drops and the burette’s graph had a gradient of
0.042 cm3/drops.

REFERENCES:

Consistency, Accuracy and Sensitivity. (n.d.). Retrieved from OnlineTuition.com.my:

http://spmphysics.onlinetuition.com.my/2013/06/consistency-accuracy-and-
sensitivity.html#:~:text=The%20sensitivity%20of%20an%20instrument,a%20small%20change%20in
%20measurement.

Errors in Measurement: Gross Errors, Systematic Errors and Random Errors. (n.d.). Retrieved from
BYJU'S The Learning App: https://byjus.com/physics/accuracy-precision-error-

Accuracy, Precision, and Significant Figures. (n.d.). Retrieved from Physics Libre Texts:
https://phys.libretexts.org