5.

12
224. 1
129. 2

Error Propagation
Suppose we have two measurements:

(2rd decimal)
(1st decimal)
(1st decimal)

A + A and B + B
I.

Addition/Subtraction Rule

When add/subtract, add the absolute errors

(A + A) + (B + B) = (A+B) + (A + B)

II.

Determined by least significant figure

Example:

Notice that:
(A+B) is the simple addition or A and B
(A + B) is the absolute error of both A and B

II.

Multiplication/Division Rule

When multiply/divide, add the percent error

(A + A) x (B + B) = (AB) + (BA + AB +AB)

Multiplication/Division

III.

100. 002
4. 1
4.1 x 102

5. 12
224. 1
2.28 x 10-2

(5 sf)
(2 sf)
(2 sf)

(3 sf)
/o (4 sf)
(3sf)

Sigfig of a measured quantity

For example, if a volumetric flask have a value of:

Notice that:

100.00 + 0.02mL

(AB) is the multiplication of A and B

(BA + AB +AB) is the absolute error
How do we get the percent error? Divide the absolute
error with the multiplied value

This means that manufactured glass could contain

volume in the range of:
99.98mL to 100.02mL
Therefore, we treat 100.00mL as 5 significant figure

BA + AB + AB A B A B
=
+
+
AB
A
B
A B

We then make assumption (which usually is a pretty

good) that

A B
A B

is small such that:

BA + AB + AB A B

+
= %
AB
A
B

This is how we get the percent error addition

IV.

Sig fig of an exact quantity

Some values are considered an exact values.

Example:
1 dozen is exactly 12 items
12 inch is exactly 1 foot

Significant Figure

1 L is exactly 1000mL

There are two concept that requires attention: decimal

place and significant figures

Because they are exact and have 100% precision, you

can think of them as having infinite sig. fig.

I.

Addition/Subtraction

Determined by least decimal point

Example:
100. 002
4. 1
104. 1

(3rd decimal)
(1st decimal)
(1st decimal)

These exact values that occurs constantly during unit

conversion will not affect your error propagation.

Acid Base

There are several equations you would need to

remember:
Equilibrium constants:
For example, if we have an equilibrium
aA + bB cC + dD

( + )
( )

Because we know that these are weak acid and weak

base, it will not disproportionate much, such that the
concentration of H+ or x in the equation is going to be
small compared to the initial acid (N) and conjugate
base concentration (M)
We then assume because x is small:

The equilibrium constant is written as:

=

[] []
[] []

If we take a logarithm on both side, we get:

Ka and Kb is simply a special name to denote acid and

base equilibrium constants.

log( ) = log ( ) + log()

Substituting the definition of pKa and pH

To solve this, we can use ICE table

I
C
E

HA
N
-x
N-x

= log (
A0
+x
x

H+
0
+x
x

Therefore, Keq can be written as:

=

[ ]
)
[]

Rearrange the equation, we then get the equation:

[ ]
= + log (
)
[]
Again, this comes from the assumption that both the
conjugate acid and base are weak, such that it will not
disproportionate much.

2
( )

Value of x can be solved using quadratic equation

There are many too form of this equation involving pKb,

pOH, B, etc. which will not be written here, as they are
derived using the same concept.

Handerson-Hasselbalch equation
= + log (

[ ]
)
[]

Understanding the relationship between Equivalence

point, pH and pKA

This equation is an assumption derived using the

assumption of weak acid/ conjugate base (or vice
versa).
Suppose we have an acid with initial concentration N
and its conjugate base with concentration M
I
C
E

HA
N
-x
N-x

From this, we can express Keq as:

AM
+x
M+x

H+
0
+x
x

As this will be part of your postlab, I will not discuss this

here. Please understand the titration graph.