Laboratory Report

Short Laboratory Report

SIC2022 Basic Analytical Chemistry

Experiment No: 1
Title: Statistical Treatment of Raw Data
Name: Sharvani A/P Karthigesu
Matric number: U2103660/1
Name of Partners: 1. Low Ru Yi
2. Nur Eillia Shuhada Binti Ab Rahman
Date: 29/11/2022
Title

Statistical Treatment of Raw Data of the Mass of 30 Paperclips.

Objective

i) To understand apply the statistical concepts used in analytical chemistry.

ii) To determine the masses of 30 paperclips and obtain their mean mass,
median mass, the range of the masses, the relative standard deviation in
ppt and the coefficient of variation, CV by using graphical analysis in
Microsoft Excel.
iii) To plot a Gaussian curve that satisfies the gaussian distribution using the
data obtained.

Results and Discussion

Table 1: Table 1 shows the average mass in ascending order of 30 paperclips.

Mass (g) Average

Number
1 2 3 mass (g)
1 0.9306 0.9307 0.9309 0.9307
2 0.9334 0.9336 0.9337 0.9336
3 0.9351 0.9353 0.9350 0.9351
4 0.9360 0.9362 0.9360 0.9361
5 0.9368 0.9362 0.9366 0.9365
6 0.9374 0.9376 0.9372 0.9374
7 0.9375 0.9378 0.9377 0.9377
8 0.9391 0.9392 0.9390 0.9391
9 0.9396 0.9395 0.9400 0.9397
10 0.9412 0.9411 0.9409 0.9411
11 0.9413 0.9410 0.9409 0.9411
12 0.9414 0.9413 0.9417 0.9415
13 0.9423 0.9424 0.9426 0.9424
14 0.9427 0.9432 0.9431 0.9430
15 0.9430 0.9431 0.9432 0.9431
16 0.9430 0.9431 0.9432 0.9431
 17 0.9434 0.9430 0.9429 0.9431
18 0.9437 0.9439 0.9437 0.9438
19 0.9438 0.9441 0.9440 0.9440
20 0.9445 0.9444 0.9448 0.9446
21 0.9447 0.9445 0.9443 0.9445
22 0.9464 0.9463 0.9463 0.9463
23 0.9466 0.9465 0.9463 0.9465
24 0.9466 0.9464 0.9458 0.9463
25 0.9474 0.9473 0.9470 0.9472
26 0.9483 0.9482 0.9481 0.9482
27 0.9490 0.9484 0.9487 0.9487
28 0.9494 0.9496 0.9495 0.9495
29 0.9497 0.9495 0.9492 0.9495
30 0.9512 0.9513 0.9510 0.9512

The following data were calculated and adapted from the Microsoft excel software:

▪ Mean mass of 30 paperclips = 0.9425 g

▪ Median mass of 30 paperclips = 0.9431 g
▪ Standard deviation of 30 paperclips = 0.005077 g
▪ Range = 0.0204 g
▪ Relative Standard Deviation in ppt = 5.3865 ppt
▪ Coefficient of Variation (%) = 0.5387 %

Notice that the formulae for these calculations were:

∑X
Mean mass of n coins, ̅
X= n
n+1 th
Median mass of n coins = The ( ) value in the increasing mass series.
2

̅ )2
∑(Xi − X
Standard deviation of n coin, s = √ n−1

Range = X30- X1
s
Relative Standard Deviation/ ppt = (X̅) x 1000 ppt
s
Coefficient of Variation/ % = (X̅) x 100 %
 The probability density of gaussian curve was calculated using the Microsoft
excel formula below and the graph is shown in figure 1:

Gaussian Distribution
90.00
80.00
70.00
Probability Density

60.00
50.00
40.00
30.00
20.00
10.00
0.00
0.9250 0.9300 0.9350 0.9400 0.9450 0.9500 0.9550
Mass of objects (g)

Figure 1: The gaussian curve plotted from the data obtained.

The gaussian curve obtained is bell-shaped which shows that it satisfies a gaussian
distribution.

There were some errors that occurred while conducting this experiment which have
caused the analytical balance not to reach a stable reading. This fluctuation in reading
could have caused by the constant movement of people in the room which have lead
to change in air current that caused the sensitive instrument to show wrong
measurement. Next, the experiment was not conducted in room temperature.

Therefore, a few precaution steps shall be taken which include calibrating the
instrument properly prior to use. Next, the analytical balance should be free from any
air current. So, it should be placed in a place with fewer people movement. The room
temperature should also be kept constant. To improve the accuracy, 50 paperclips can
be measured instead of 30.

Conclusion

The mean mass, median mass, the range of the masses, the relative standard
deviation in ppt and the coefficient of variation, CV of 30 paperclips were calculated
and recorced by using graphical on Microsoft Excel. The result is as shown below:-
▪ Mean mass of 30 paperclips = 0.9425 g
▪ Median mass of 30 paperclips = 0.9431 g
▪ Standard deviation of 30 paperclips = 0.005077 g
▪ Range = 0.0204 g
▪ Relative Standard Deviation in ppt = 5.3865 ppt
▪ Coefficient of Variation (%) = 0.5387 %

A bell-shaped Gaussian curve that satisfies a gaussian distribution was successfully

plotted using the data obtained.

References

Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, University of Malaya. (n.d.).

Basic Analytical Chemistry Second-Year Laboratory Manual. Retrieved
from https://kimia.um.edu.my/

Hill, K. (n.d.). Analytical balances and proper weighing practices. Lab Manager.
Retrieved December 5, 2022, from https://www.labmanager.com/laboratory-
technology/analytical-balances-and-proper-weighing-practices-1805

Libretexts. (2022, August 17). Proper use of balances. Chemistry LibreTexts.

Retrieved December 5, 2022, from
https://chem.libretexts.org/Ancillary_Materials/Demos_Techniques_and_Experi
ments/General_Lab_Techniques/Proper_Use_of_Balances

Bloomenthal, A. (2022, September 11). Bell curve definition: Normal distribution

meaning example in finance. Investopedia. Retrieved December 5, 2022, from
https://www.investopedia.com/terms/b/bell-curve.asp