Chem 1A Measurement and Glassware Lab

Volumetric Glassware and Measurements

Objectives:
1. To develop familiarity with the chemical laboratory.
2. To practice basic laboratory skills.
3. To investigate the limitations of various pieces of laboratory glassware.
4. To illustrate the difference between precision and accuracy.

Introduction:
A measurement is a quantitative observation, comprised of a number and a unit. Laboratory
measurements are read from the measuring device, with no rounding to fewer decimal places. Each
measuring device has its own precision (how many digits that should be recorded), and should always
be recorded to that device’s precision.

A. Types of measurement devices.

1. Digital display

The easiest devices to use and record properly are devices with an electronic display. These devices
should be read and the measured value recorded exactly as seen on the display, with all digits.

2. Multiple Markings

Examples of devices with multiple markings used in this course are:

• Graduated cylinders
• Burets
• Thermometers
• Rulers
• Beakers
• Erlenmeyer flasks

Devices with multiple markings require careful inspection to determine how to properly read and
record measurements from that device. These devices will indicate a unit, as well as numbers displayed
on major markings. There will be smaller minor markings in between the larger numbered markings
without displayed numbers. There is a general guideline for reading and recording measurements from
these devices: Read and record the measurement to one decimal place more than the decimal
place of the minor markings. The person measuring will need to estimate the last digit of the
measurement to be recorded, which occurs between the smallest markings or falls directly on one of
the smallest markings of the device (in which case the final digit recorded will be a zero).
The reading for the last (estimated) digit depends on space between the minor markings and how good
your eyes are. In some cases, you can envision to an imaginary 10 markings; sometimes perhaps only
one. This results in having one uncertain digit at the end of your measurement.
 Chem 1A Measurement and Glassware Lab

3. Volumetric glassware

Devices with only one marking are often called “volumetric” measuring devices. They are designed
and calibrated to measure only one amount – the amount indicated by that lone marking. When using a
volumetric device, the measurement is recorded to the precision labeled on it.

B. Precision and Accuracy

A reliable measurement requires both accuracy and precision. Accuracy involves a comparison of the
experimental measurement with the true or theoretical value; whereas, precision involves the
reproducibility of the experimental measurements (how well they agree with each other).

Imagine a dart board. Darts that are grouped in the center of the bullseye would be both accurate
(getting close to the desired value) and precise (repeating the same result with every test). If the darts
are spread out, but still within the bullseye you have high accuracy, but low precision. If the darts are
closely group around the 1 point space, you have low accuracy, but high precision. And if you hit
multiple places around the dart board while aiming for the bullseye, you have low accuracy and
precision.

C. About the experiment

The purpose of this experiment is to compare the accuracy and the precision of various types of
glassware for measuring volumes. To accomplish this, we will be testing four different types of
glassware and measuring the mass of water delivered from each type. Why measure the mass you
might ask? Since the laboratory electronic balances can determine the amount of water much more
accurately than the glassware, you will weigh your measured water samples on the analytical balances
in the laboratory.

Using the mass and the known density of water1, the volumes will be calculated. The calculated
volumes will be the Experimental values.

Density = Mass / Volume

% Error is a measure of accuracy and is calculated using the following formula:

Experimental Value - Actual Value

% Error = x 100%
Actual Value
% Difference is a measure of precision and is calculated using the following formula:

% Difference = Experimental Value – Ave. Value x 100%

Ave. Value
“Actual Value” is the stated, nominal value of the device, e.g. 10 ml. “Ave. Value” is the average of a
series of measurements, e.g. average of 3 volume measurements of a device.

1
The density of water varies with temperature, so the temperature of your water sample will be measured and compared
with a chart of the known densities of water at different temperatures.
Chem 1A Measurement and Glassware Lab

Procedure:
A. Beaker:
1. Weigh a clean, dry 100 mL beaker on an analytical balance to the highest precision of the balance.
2. Using a calibrated 50 mL beaker, measure 10 mL of distilled water.
3. Pour the water into the dry beaker.
4. Weigh the 100 mL beaker with water.
5. Weigh a second 10 mL portion of water by repeating steps 2-4. You can just add this portion of
water to that which is already in the beaker -- you don't have to empty and dry the beaker first!
6. Weigh a third 10 mL portion of water by repeating steps 2-4. You can just add this portion of water
to that which is already in the beaker -- you don't have to empty and dry the beaker first!
7. Measure the temperature of the water to its correct precision using a thermometer.
8. Discard the water and towel dry the beaker for part B.

B. Graduated Cylinder
1. Weigh a clean, dry 50 mL beaker on an analytical balance to the highest precision of the balance.
2. Fill a 25 mL graduated cylinder with distilled water so that the bottom of the water meniscus lines
up with the 10 mL calibration mark.
3. Pour the water into the 50 mL beaker.
4. Weigh the 50 mL beaker with water.
5. Weigh a second 10 mL portion of water by repeating steps 2-4. You don't have to empty and dry
the beaker first.
6. Weigh a third 10 mL portion of water by repeating steps 2-4. You don't have to empty and dry the
beaker first.
7. Measure the temperature of the water to its correct precision using a thermometer.
8. Discard the water and towel dry the beaker for part C.

C. Pipet
1. Weigh a clean, dry 50 mL beaker on an analytical balance to the highest precision of the balance.
2. Pour 40 mL of distilled water into a 50 mL Erlenmeyer flask.
3. Pipet 10 mL of distilled water from the Erlenmeyer into the 50 mL beaker.
4. Weigh the 50 mL beaker with the water.
5. Weigh a second 10 mL portion of water by repeating steps 3-4. You don't have to empty and dry
the beaker first.
6. Weigh a third 10 mL portion of water by repeating steps 3-4. You don't have to empty and dry the
beaker first.
7. Measure the temperature of the water using a thermometer using a thermometer.
8. Discard the water and towel dry the beaker for part D.
Chem 1A Measurement and Glassware Lab

D. Buret
1. Obtain a buret and set it up in a clamp on your work station stand.
2. Using a funnel fill up the buret with distilled water.
3. Check to make sure that there are no air bubbles in the tip of the buret, or any leaks from the tip of
the buret or the stopcock.
4. Open the stopcock and allow the water to run from the buret into a 250 mL beaker until the bottom
of the water meniscus is within the calibration marks. DO NOT START AT 0.00.
5. Record the volume to the appropriate precision for the device.
6. Drain 10 mL of distilled water into a clean, dry, and pre-weighed 50 mL beaker.
7. Weigh the 50 mL beaker with the water and record the data (to the nearest 0.001 g).
8. Weigh a second 10 mL portion of water by repeating steps 6-7. You don't have to empty and dry
the beaker first.
9. Weigh a third 10 mL portion of water by repeating steps 6-7. You don't have to empty and dry the
beaker first.
10. Measure the temperature of the water to its appropriate precision using a thermometer.
Chem 1A Measurement and Glassware Lab

Name:

Include Units For All Entries.

Record All Data In Ink.

Data:

Graduated
Beaker Cylinder Pipet Buret Buret ml
Mass of empty & dry
beaker (g)

Mass of beaker
plus 1st water sample

Mass of beaker
plus 1st & 2nd water samples

Mass of beaker
plus 1st, 2nd, and 3rd water samples

Temperature of
water (°C)

Density of water (g/ml)

Results:

Mass of 1st sample

Mass of 2nd sample

Mass of 3rd sample

Average of all 3 samples

Average as volume of water

(Calculated using density)

% Error

% Difference
1st Sample
2nd Sample
3rd Sample
Chem 1A Measurement and Glassware Lab

Calculations:
Graduated
Beaker Cylinder

Mass of 1st sample

Mass of 2nd sample

Mass of 3rd sample

Average of
1st, 2nd, and 3rd
samples

Ave. as volume
of water

% Error

% Difference
1st Sample

2nd Sample

3rd Sample
Chem 1A Measurement and Glassware Lab

Calculations:
Pipet Buret

Mass of 1st sample

Mass of 2nd sample

Mass of 3rd sample

Average of
1st, 2nd, and 3rd
samples

Ave. as volume
of water

% Error

% Difference

1st Sample

2nd Sample

3rd Sample
Chem 1A Measurement and Glassware Lab

Post Lab Assignment

Using your experimental results, briefly distinguish among the accuracy and precision of each type of
volumetric glassware used in this experiment.

1. Specifically, which did you find to be the most accurate and which the least accurate?

2. Which was the most precise and which was the least precise?

3. Did you find any correlation between accuracy and precision? Explain.

4. Based upon your results, which piece of glassware would you use for each of these situation:

a. A lab procedure instructs you to deliver approximately 10 mL of water.

b. A lab procedure instructs you to deliver 10.00 mL of water.

c. A lab procedure instructs you to deliver between 5 mL and 6 mL of water and you must
know the volume of water delivered to the nearest 0.01 mL.

d. A lab procedure instructs you to deliver 15 mL to +/- 0.5 mL precision.

Chem 1A Measurement and Glassware Lab

Advanced Study Assignment

A student is asked to perform and analyze the results of just the buret portion of a glassware experiment to
determine the accuracy and precision of the buret.

1. The student prepared their buret as shown in the picture below:

a. What is the volume indicated on the buret to the correct number of signficant digits?

b. If the student wanted to deliver 10.00 mL of water from the buret into a beaker, what
should the final volume reading of the buret read?

2. When measuring the mass of water, the student used the weighing by difference method. What is the result
of the following subtraction operation, to the correct number of significant figures:

54.543
- 31.433

3. The student obtained the following measurements: What are the correct calculated values?

Mass of dry beaker (g) 30.123 g

Mass of beaker
plus 1st water sample 40.110 g Mass of 1st sample (g)

Mass of beaker
plus 1st & 2nd water samples 50.234 g Mass of 2nd sample (g)
Chem 1A Measurement and Glassware Lab

4. Using the data above and the third trial listed below, calculate the average value for all three measurements.

Mass of 1st sample g

Mass of 2nd sample g

Mass of 3rd sample 9.994 g

Average of all 3 samples g

5. If the density of water at 19.5 ºC is 0.99826 g/ml, what is the volume for the above average mass of water.

Average as volume of water

6. If the student was trying to deliver 10.00 mL, what is the % Error for the average value calculated above.
Is a positive or negative error?

7. For all three samples, calculate the % difference for this buret.