1

HCC – Houston Community College

Northwest Campus – Alief-Hayes
CHEM 1111
CRN 13969
Prof: Dr Yokabet Gedeon

Laboratory Report
Experiment 1 - Basic Laboratory Techniques
Lilian de Vasconcelos (W213207328) – Jan.30.2021
 2

I. Introduction
As said in the Laboratory Manual’s Experiment 1 introductory line, “Chemistry is an experimental
science”. That means much of the working data are measurements, which, by definition, always carry within
it a certain degree of uncertainty. They are approximations.

Thereby, the reliability of any conclusion strongly depends on the accuracy and precision of those
same measurements – accuracy being an evaluation of how close individual measurements are to the “true”
measurement and precision being the assessment of how closely individual measurements agree with one
another.

To ensure those two attributes, it is essential to have knowledge and make adequate use of the
laboratory equipment. Additionally, it is mandatory that the researcher properly understands and represents
standard measurement units (given by the SI unit) and its conversions.

In order to introduce students to the most common laboratory apparatus and proper way to use
them, the experiment consisted in the execution of a set of five basic laboratory procedures: using a
meterstick; a graduated cylinder; the calibration of a thermometer, and the calibration of a 10 mL pipet using
a balance.

In the course of the experiment, several parameters associated with the most common used
laboratory equipment were measured. These parameters were: mass (amount of matter of an object),
length (measurement of size or distance), volume (amount of space taken out by an object) and temperature
(measure of the average kinetic energy of the particles in an object).

Some required information used in the experiment was: waters boiling (100 oC) and freezing (0 oC)
points and water’s densities from in various temperatures (15 oC to 28 oC).

Other requirement was the familiarization with units and prefixes, respectively listed in the tables 3.1,
and 3.2. Additionally, table 3.3 presents all conversion and mathematical formulas used for the five
experiments.

II. Experimental Procedure

The experiments were presented as following:

A. Meterstick
The tool was used to measure the length and the width of the Laboratory Manual in inches (Imperial
System). The measurements were then converted to the Metric System proving the values’ equivalency
(using tables 3.1 and 3.2 information).

The area of the Manual was also calculated with the result being stated in cm2.

B. Graduated Cylinder
A 100 mL graduated cylinder was half filled with water.

The volume of the water was measured to the nearest 0.1 mL, giving attention to the meniscus
(“curved surface of the water”) and the risk of parallax (according to the Webster Dictionary: “apparent
 3

displacement or the difference in apparent direction of an object as seen from two different points not on a
straight line with the object”).

C. Thermometer Calibration
One beaker was filled with approximately 50 mL of ice and 250 mL of water and left still for around 15
minutes (for temperature equilibrium). Another 250 mL beaker half-filled with water was set up in a wire
gauze and iron ring to be heated with a Bunsen burner.

The temperature of the first beaker was checked after the 15 minutes wait, being registered as the
measured freezing point.

The temperature of the heating water beaker was periodically determined, until it was observed that
the values were stable. The stable value was recorded as the measured boiling point.

The atmospheric pressure was checked to orient the definition of the true boiling point and the
temperature correction was calculated with the use of boiling point correction formula (check table 3.3).

D. 10 mL Pipet Calibration with a Balance

The experiment’s introduction started with the highlighting of the balance proper care and the
observation that the procedure is adequate to any volumetric glassware (i.e., besides the pipet, the
volumetric flask, the buret or the graduated cylinder).

First, 40 mL of water was left in a 150 mL beaker to rest, while the tare mass of a (empty and dry) 50
mL Erlenmeyer was obtained to the nearest 0.1 mg. Sequentially, the temperature of the reserved water was
recorded.

Then, using a pipet and its bulb, 10 mL of the water was collected and transferred to the Erlenmeyer.
The gross mass (glass + water) was noted to nearest 0.1 mg.

The mass of the water was calculated by the subtraction of tare from the gross mass (providing net
mass data).

Finally, using the density equation (check table 3.4), and a given value for water’s density at the
observed room temperature, the volume of the collected water was calculated.

The procedure was repeated two more times to give resources for precision evaluation, represented
by the average deviation from the mean volume.

E. Antifreeze density’s measurement

The tare was defined by recording the mass of an empty and dry 50 mL flask (to the nearest 0.1 mg).

With the use of a pipet, 10 mL of antifreeze solution was then transferred to the flask, allowing for the
recording of the gross mass.

The net mass was calculated and then divided by the volume to obtain the density value.

The procedure was repeated two more times to supply data for the precision’s calculation.

III. Results and Discussion

 4

To reach conclusions, the information in the following tables were presented and later demanded/
applied.

TABLE 3.1 SI, Some Common Metric Units, and Some Imperial Units
Physical quantity SI unit Some common metric Some Imperial
units System Unit
Length Meter (m) * Inch (in)
Volume Cubic meter (m3) Liter (L)* Gallon (gal)
Mass Kilogram (kg) * Pound (lb)
Energy Joule (J) Calorie (cal)
Temperature Kelvin (K) Celsius (oC) Fahrenheit (F)
*Some nomenclature is, actually, a “grade” in the same scale as the basic unit (ex: cm is a hundredth of m) and will be addressed in
the following table.

TABLE 3.2 Prefixes in the Metric System

Abbreviation Prefix Meaning
(power of 10)
P Peta– 1015
T Tera– 1012
G Giga– 109
M Mega– 106
K Kilo– 103
- No prefix 100
d Deci– 10-1
c Centi– 10-2
m Milli– 10-3
µ Micro– 10-6
n Nano– 10-9
p Pico– 10-12
f Femto– 10-15
a Atto– 10-18
z Zepto– 10-21

TABLE 3.3 Formulas

Concept / Purpose Formula
Density Density = Mass___ d = m_
 5

Volume v

Boiling Point correction b.p. correction = (760 mm Hg – atmospheric pressure) × (0.037 oC)
Net mass gross mass – tare mass = net mass
(I) Mean value (M)
M = v1 + v2 + … + vn_
n

(II) Deviation from the mean (d)

d1 = |v1 – M|
Precision d2 = |v2 – M|
(average deviation from the mean) …
dn = |vn – M|

(III) Average deviation from the mean (P)

P = d1 + d2 + … + dy_
Y

Property Units Conversion formula

inch → centimeter 1 in = 2.54 cm

Length
foot → inch 1 ft = 12 in

Mass pound → gram 1 lb = 453.6 g

Cubic meter → Liter 1 m3 = 103 L (1 L = 1dm3)
Volume
Gallon → Liter 1 gal = 4.54609 L
Kelvin → Celsius 0 K = –273.15 oC
o
Temperature Celsius → Fahrenheit C = 5_ (F – 32)
9

1. Results
A. Meterstick
The Manual’s measured length was 10 13/16 in and 27.5 cm and the width was: 8 ½ in and
21.5 cm.
Using the inch → centimeter conversion formula (1 in = 2.54 cm), it was verified that both
measurements were equivalent (check Report Sheet, A. The Meterstick for detailed calculations).

B. Graduated Cylinder
The volume of water measured on the bottom of the meniscus in the graduated cylinder was 36 mL.
 6

C. Thermometer Calibration
The thermometer calibration was performed by comparing observed temperature both in ice-water
and boiling water samples, using the curve below. The calculation also considered the impact of local
atmospheric pressure (check Report Sheet, C. The Thermometer and Its Calibration). The result was a
correction index of – 0.074 oC.
 7

D. 10 mL Pipet Calibration with a Balance

The three different trials resulted in different values for net masses (9.99 g and 9.94 g) – therefore for
pipet volumes (10.01 mL and 9.96 mL).

Then, the calculated 10 mL pipet volume was 9.98 mL ± 0.02 mL (check Report Sheet, D. Using the
Balance to Calibrate Your 10 mL Pipet for detailed calculations).

E. Antifreeze Density’s Measurement

Each of the three trials resulted in a slightly different result for the antifreeze’s mass (10.07 g, 11.08 g,
and 110.6 g). The resulting calculated density was 1.074 g/mL ± 0.044 g/mL (check Report Sheet, E.
Measuring the Density of Antifreeze for detailed calculations).

2. Discussion
Each experiment made working with a specific set of tools very clear, bringing to light specific measures
and particularities that must always be observed in a lab context.

The thermometer, for instance: differently from the ordinary use in everyday life, requires calibration.
Thus, the calibration experiment showed how a measured value (96.4 oC) can be different from the
expected, “true” one (96.3 oC), expressing in practice the idea of accuracy (and related notions of inherent
human or equipment error).

In turn, the different results in different trials, both in the pipet and the antifreeze experiments,
demonstrated the concept of precision (also related to the errors listed above).

IV. Conclusions
It is important to remark that the procedure descriptions refer to an experiment virtually taken. The
data utilized was provided through the Learning Managing System (CANVAS) with students assuming they
result of the most zealous execution of the Manual’s directions.

That issue aside, the experiments not only worked to show the proper way to handle the most common
apparatus in a lab, but they also demonstrated and put to practice some of the concepts taught in the
lecture part of the General Chemistry course: the uncertainty of measurements and the right use of
Significant Figures.

V. References
Merriam-Webster Dictionary
https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/parallax

Laboratory Experiments for Chemistry: The Central Science. Custom Edition for HCC CHEM 1111, Pearson,
NY. ISBN 13: 978-0- 136-68805-1 l

Lewis University Writing. Writing a Lab Report (Chemistry)

https://lewisuwritingcenter.files.wordpress.com/2014/02/final-chemistry-lab-report-resource-2.pdf
 8

Name: Lilian de Vasconcelos Desk:_____________________

Date: January 25, 2021 Laboratory Instructor: Dr Yokabet Gedeon

Basic Laboratory Techniques 1 Pre Lab

Questions

You should be able to answer the following questions before beginning this experiment.

1. What are the basic units of length, mass, volume and temperature in the SI system?

2. What decimal power do the following abbreviation represent: (a) M, (b) k, (c) m, (d) n, and (e) µ?

3. What is the number of significant figures in each of the following measured quantities: (a) 351 g,
(b) 0.0100 mL, (c) 1.010 mL, and (d) 3.72 x 10 -3 cm?

4. What is the length in millimeters of a crystal of copper sulfate that is 0.180 in. long?

5. Perform the following conversions: (a) 72.3 mg to g, (b) 6.0 x 10 -10 m to mm, and (c) 325 mm to
µm.

6. DNA is approximately 2.5 nm in length. If an average man is 5 ft 10 in. tall, how many DNA
molecules could be stacked to extend from the ground to the top of the head of an average man?
 9

7. A liquid has a volume of 3.70 L. What is its volume in mL? In cm 3?

8. Why should you never determine the mass of a hot object?

9. Why is it necessary to calibrate a thermometer and volumetric glassware?

10. What is precision?

11. What is the density of an object with a mass of 1.583 g and a volume of 0.2009 mL?

12. Determining the mass of an object three times gave the following results: 9.2 g, 9.1g, and 9.3 g.
Find the mean mass and the average deviation from the mean.

13. Normal body temperature is 37.0 oC. What is the corresponding Fahrenheit temperature?
 10

14. What is the mass in kilograms of 680 mL of a substance that has a density of 0.930 g/mL?

15. An object has a mass of exactly 5 g on an analytical balance that has an accuracy of 0.1 mg. To
how many significant figures should this mass be recorded?
 11

Name: Lilian de Vasconcelos Desk:_____________________

Date: January 26, 2021 Laboratory Instructor: Dr Yokabet Gedeon

REPORT SHEET EXPERIMENT

Basic Laboratory Techniques 1

A. The Meterstick

Length of this lab book ___________ in. ___________ cm __________ mm __________ m

Width of this lab book ___________ in. ___________ cm __________ mm __________ m

Using an equation (including units), show that the above measurements are equivalent.

Area of this lab book (show calculations) _______________ cm 2

B. The Graduated Cylinder

Volume of water in graduated cylinder ___________ mL
Volume of water contained in largest test tube ___________ mL

C. The Thermometer and Its Calibration

Observed temperature of ice and water mixture ___________ oC
o
Temperature of boiling water ___________ C
Observed atmospheric pressure ___________ mm Hg
o
True (corrected) temperature of boiling water ___________ C
o
Thermometer correction ___________ C
 12

D. Using the Balance to Calibrate Your 10 mL Pipet

Temperature of water used in pipet ___________ oC
Corrected temperature ___________ oC

Trial 1 Trial 2 Trial 3

Mass of Erlenmeyer plus ~10
mL of H2O (gross mass) ___________ ___________ ___________ g

Mass of Erlenmeyer (tare mass) ___________ ___________ ___________ g

Mass of ~10 mL of H2O (net ___________ ___________ ___________ g

mass)

Volume delivered by 10 mL ___________ ___________ __________ mL

pipet (show calculations)

Mean volume delivered by 10 mL pipet (show calculations) ____________ mL

Trial 1 Trial 2 Trial 3

Individual deviations from the
mean ___________ ___________ ___________

Average deviation from the mean (show calculations) ____________ mL

Volume delivered by your 10 mL pipet ____________ mL ± ____________ mL

E. Measuring the Density of Antifreeze

Temperature of antifreeze ____________ oC

 13

Trial 1 Trial 2 Trial 3

Mass of flask + antifreeze ___________ ___________ ___________ g

Mass of empty flask ___________ ___________ ___________ g

Mass of antifreeze ___________ ___________ ___________ g

Density of antifreeze ___________ ___________ _________

(show calculations) g/mL

Mean (average) density

Average deviation from the mean

(show calculations)
 14

Name: Lilian de Vasconcelos Desk:_____________________

Date: January 29, 2021 Laboratory Instructor: Dr Yokabet Gedeon

POST LAB QUESTIONS EXPERIMENT

Basic Laboratory Techniques 1

QUESTIONS

1. Identify each of the following as measurements of length, area, volume, mass, density, time, or
temperature: (a) ns, (b) 10.0 kg/m3, (c) 1.2 pm, (d) 750 km2, (e) 83 K, and (f) 4.0 mm3.

2. Carry out the following operations and express the answer with the appropriate number of
significant figures and units: (a) (5.231 mm)(6.1 mm), (b) 72.3 g/1.5 mL, (c) 12.21 g + 0.0132 g, and
(d) 31.03 g + 12 mg.

3. Drug medications are often prescribed on the basis of body mass. The adult dosage of Elixophyllin,
A drug used to treat asthma, is 6 mg/kg of body mass. Calculate the dose in milligrams for a 160 lb
person.

4. A man who is 5 ft 10 in. tall weighs 160 lb. What is his height in centimeters and his mass and
kilograms?

5. Determine the boiling point of water at 672 mm Hg.

 15

6. A pipet delivers 9.98 g of water at 19 oC. What volume does the pipet deliver?

7. A pipet delivers 10.4 mL, 10.2 mL, 10.8 mL, and 10.6 mL in consecutive trials. Find the mean
volume in the average deviation from the mean.

8. A 141 mg sample was placed on a watch glass that has a mass of 9.203 g. What is the mass of the
watch glass and sample in grams?

9. (a) Using the defined freezing and boiling points of water, make a plot of degrees Fahrenheit
versus degrees Celsius on the graph paper provided.

(b) Determine the Celsius equivalent of 40 oF using your graph. The relationship between these
two temperature scales is linear (that is, it is of the form y = mx + b). Consult Appendix C regarding
linear relationships and determine the equation that relates degrees Fahrenheit to degrees
Celsius.

(c) Compute the Celsius equivalent of 40 oC using this relationship.

16