Notes: No measurement can be made with 100% precision No measurement is 100% accurate or perfect Random errors due to limitation of instrument (uncertainty of equipment)
Must choose equipment with high precision Significant figs tell us about the degree of precision More sig fig more precise, more certain we are
Accurate data low systematic error ( instrument must be calibrated ) Precise data low random error ( instrument with high precision ) Reduce random error, use instrument with high degree of precision
Precise/ Accurate Use instrument with high precision + low systematic error
Random error sometimes too high or too low due to limitation of instrument reduce random error by taking replicates and average
Systematic error Always too high or too low due to instrument not calibrated or procedural error( procedure used always give too low or too high) Reduce systematic error by calibrating instrument and modifying our experimental procedure
Random Error link to Precision, overcome by using precise instruments and taking replicate samples (average) Systematic Error link to Accuracy overcome by calibrating the instruments
Treatment of Uncertainty Adding or Subtracting measured quantities associated with uncertainty.
2 methods can be used 1 st Method By adding up the absolute uncertainty
Initial mass, m = (10.000.01)g Final mass, m = (15.000.01)g Mass difference, m = (15.00 10.00) = 5.00g Absolute uncertainty, m = (0.01 + 0.01)g = 0.02g
Answer = (5.00 0.02)g = (4.98 --- 5.02)g
2 nd Method Max/min limit error method
Initial mass, m = (10.000.01)g Final mass, m = (15.000.01)g Mass difference, m = (15.00 10.00) = 5.00g Max error = Highest mass difference = (15.01 9.99) = 5.02g Min error = Smallest mass difference = (14.99 10.01) = 4.98g
Answer = (4.98 ---- 5.02)g
Multiplying or dividing measured quantities Percentage uncertainty is the sum of percentage uncertainty of individual quantities
Moles, n = Conc x Vol Conc = (2.000.02)M , Vol = (2.00.1)dm 3
Moles, n = (4.0 6%) convert to absolute uncertainty (6/100) x 4.0 = 0.24 Moles, n = (4.0 0.24) or (4.00.2)
Answer = (3.8 --- 4.2)
Uncertainty involving time for rate of reaction
Rate of reaction = 1/time Average time for 3 trials = (5.28 + 4.75 + 4.47)/3 = 4.83s
Rate of reaction = 1/average time = 1/ 4.83 = 0.207s -1
How to find uncertainty for time and rate ?
3 ways to find uncertainty for time and rate.
1 st easy method and not very accurate (% Uncertainty Method)
Average time = 4.83s Uncertainty for time t = (4.830.01) using uncertainty from stopwatch % Uncertainty time t = (0.01/4.83) x 100% = 0.207% Rate = 1/Time Rate = 1/4.83 = 0.207s -1
Uncertainty for Rate = (0.2070.207%) convert to absolute uncertainty Rate = (0.2070.004)
Rate = (0.207 0.004) which range from (0.211 --- 0.203)
2 nd method using Max-Min Range (more accurate).
Time for 3 trials are 5.28, 4.75, 4.47 Average time = 4.83s
Uncertainty for time = (Max time Min time)/2 = (5.28 4.47)/2 = 0.41s Uncertainty for time t = (4.83 0.41) % Uncertainty time t = (0.41/4.83) x 100% = 8.48% Rate = 1/Time Rate = 1/4.83 = 0.207s -1
Uncertainty for Rate = (0.207 8.48%) convert to absolute uncertainty Uncertainty for Rate = (0.207 0.017)s -1
Rate = (0.207 0.017) which range from (0.224---0.190) 3 rd method using Max-Min Error (more accurate)
Time for 3 trials are 5.28, 4.75, 4.47 Max time = 5.28, Min time = 4.47 Average Rate = 1/time = 1/4.83 = 0.207s -1
Uncertainty for Rate Calculation Max Rate = 1/min time = 1/4.47 = 0.223s -1
Min Rate = 1/max time = 1/5.28 = 0.189s -1 Rate with uncertainty = 0.207 (0.2230.189) Rate = 0.207 (max 0.223 , min 0.189) which range from (0.223 0.189)
Uncertainty involving Concentration of solution by serial dilution
Two methods to find uncertainty for concentration 1 st method using %Uncertainty
Serial Dilution (3%,1.5%, 0.75%, 0.325%, 0.1875%) of H 2 O 2 using water.
M 1 V 1 (before dilution)= M 2 V 2 (after dilution) Conc M 2 = (M 1 V 1 )/ V 2
% Uncertainty M 2 = %Uncertainty M 1 + %Uncertainty V 1 + %Uncertainty V 2
M 1 = (3.000 0.00)% H 2 O 2 Standard V 1 = (1.500 0.012)ml H 2 O 2
V 2 = (1.500 0.012)ml water added
%Uncertainty M 1 = 0% %Uncertainty V 1 = (0.012/1.500)x 100% = 0.8% %Uncertainty V 2 = (0.012/1.500)x 100% = 0.8%
Total %Uncertainty = 0% + 0.8% + 0.8% = 1.6% Conc M 2 = 1.500% Uncertainty conc M 2 = (1.500%1.6%) convert to absolute uncertainty Uncertainty conc M 2 = (1.500 0.024)%
Conc M 2 = (1.50 0.02)% which ranges from (1.521.48)%
2 nd method using max/min error method
Serial Dilution (3%,1.5%, 0.75%, 0.325%, 0.1875%) of H 2 O 2 using water.
M 1 V 1 (before dilution)= M 2 V 2 (after dilution) Conc M 2 = (M 1 V 1 )/ (V 1 + V 2 )= 1.500% * after dilution, total volume = (V 1 + V 2 )
M 1 = (3.000 0.00)% H 2 O 2 Standard V 1 = (1.500 0.012)ml H 2 O 2
V 2 = (1.500 0.012)ml water added
Max V 1 = 1.512ml Max V 2 = 1.512ml Min V 1 = 1.488ml Min V 2 = 1.488ml
Conc M 2 = 1.500% Conc M 2 = (M 1 V 1 )/ (V 1 + V 2 ) * after dilution, total volume = (V 1 + V 2 )
Max Conc M 2 error happens when Max V 1 vol and Min V 2 vol used Max Conc M 2 = (M 1 x Max V 1 )/ (Max V 1 + Min V 2 ) = (3.00 x 1.512)/(1.512 + 1.488) = 1.512%
Min Conc M 2 error happens when Min V 1 vol and Max V 2 vol used Min Conc M 2 = (M 1 x Min V 1 )/ (Min V 1 + Max V 2 ) = (3.00 x 1.488)/(1.488 +1.512) = 1.488% Uncertainty conc M 2 = 1.500 (1.512 1.488 )%
Conc M 2 = 1.500 (1.512 1.488 )% which ranges from (1.512 1.488)% Click HERE to view detail uncertainty calculation and standard deviation