Techniques Lab

Lab Notebook
See pages 10-11
Prelab-notebook: (Required for each lab; 2 marks)
o Title - 0.25 mark
o Purpose - 0.25 mark (2-3 sentences briefly stating main concepts, reactions and
techniques)

o Chemical Hazards 1.5 mark (Toxicological properties, preventative measures, first aid
measures)

Write in pen
Write on the original page and insert divider under
copy sheet before wiring
Put your name on the front and leave room for a Table
of Contents

Determinate and
Indeterminate Errors
Determinate errors: systematic, experimental
o i.e. inaccurate equipment, impure reagents

Indeterminate errors: operator, random

o i.e. Losses from transfers, differences in judgement

Precision versus Accuracy

Precision:
agreement
between various
measurements
Accuracy:
agreement
between the
average result and
the actual value

http://celebrating200years.noaa.gov/magazine/tct/accuracy_vs_precision.html 2010-09-14

Uncertainty
There is always some uncertainty in measurement
Equipment in this lab has typical uncertainty
o See page 43

Instrument

Typical Uncertainty

Graduated cylinder, 10 mL

0.1 mL

Graduated cylinder, 100 mL

0.2 mL

Pipette, 5 mL

0.01 mL

Pipette, 10 mL

0.02 mL

Pipette, 25 mL

0.03 mL

Balance: Electronic top loader

0.01 g

Balance: analytical, Mettler

AE160/AE200

0.0001 g

Significant Figures
Significant figures help to identify the precision of a
measurement
o Zeros to denote position of decimal are not sig figs

Number of sig figs

Number of sig figs

0.0301 g

0.001030 g

4.290 hours

5000 miles

1 (but ambiguous)

1.030 mg

5.000 x103
miles

Example: using a 10 mL graduated cylinder, measured

6.2 mL
o According to the typical uncertainty in equipment, the data would be
recorded as 6.2 0.1 mL
o 2 sig figs in the measurement
o 6 is certain, 2 is uncertain

Significant Figures in
Calculations
Addition and Subtraction:
o Significant figures should be reported to the precision of the term of lowest
precision
24.35
- 9.575
+11.2
+0.46
26.435 -> 26.4 (3 significant figures)
Note: Keep the least decimal places
o Perform the calculation and then round off the digits

Significant Figures in
Calculations
Multiplication and Division
o Significant figures are reported to the precision of the term of lowest
relative precision

.
.

= 5.648 10 5.6 10

Note: Keep the least sig.fig.

(2 sig figs)

Significant Figures in
Calculations
Logarithms and Antilogarithms
o The number of sig fig. in the number = The number of decimal places in
the logarithm
o For example:

log 1.21
3 sig. figs

=
0.083
- 3 decimal places

o In pH calculations
if [H+] = 0.047M, pH = -log 0.047 (2 sig. figs)
= -log 4.7x10-2
= 2.00 - log 4.7
= 2.00 - 0.67(2)
= 1.33 (2 decimal places)

Significant Figures in
Calculations
Multistep calculations:
o Calculate intermediate results beyond the necessary precision and round
off at the end

Rounding:
o If the figure next to the last retained digit is 5 or more round up
o If the If the figure next to the last retained digit is lee than 5 round down
o 4.6349
o 4.6349

4.635 (to 4 sig figs)

4.63 (to 3 sig figs)

Uncertainty in
Calculations
Addition and Subtraction
o Uncertainty is the sum of the uncertainties of each component
measurement

Length measurement
o Between 1.38 0.02 cm and 13.85 0.02 cm
13.85
- 1.38
12.47

0.02
0.02
0.04 cm

Uncertainty of the Average

o Three trials of a length measurement:(1)18.50 0.04 cm; (2)18.40 0.04
cm; (3)18.60 0.04 cm
o Average : (18.50 +18.40 +18.60 )/3 = 18.50
(0.04+0.04+0.04)/3 = 0.04
Average =18.50 0.04 cm

Uncertainty in
Calculations
Multiplication and Division
o The uncertainty is the sum of the percentage uncertainties of each of the
component measurements

6.2 0.2 cm x 7.6 0.2 cm

6.2 cm x 7.6 cm = 47.12 -> 47cm (2 sig figs)
(0.2/6.2)*100 + (0.2/7.6)*100 =
3.226... + 2.631
= 5.857 % = 6% (1 sig fig)
(47.12 cm / 100%) * 6 % = 2.82 cm -> 3 cm (1sig fig)
Answer: 47 3 cm

Evaluation of Precision

Relative spread:
Sample

Volume (mL)

24.39

24.20

24.28

Average

24.29

Equation:


$% $& %$#"

!"# !

1000 =

(24.39 24.20)
1000 = 8-24.29

Evaluation of Accuracy
% error

Sample

Volume (mL)

24.39

24.20

24.28

Average

24.29

Accept Value

25.00

% error = (Average Accept Value)/Accept Value

= (24.29 25.00)/25.00
= - 2.840%
Note: % error with a negative number means the experimental result
is lower than the accept value.

Pipetting
See also pages 29-31
Dont blow out last drop, simply touch the last drop
to the side

Measuring Length
See also pages 38 and 45
Uncertainty depends on:
o the graduation of the scale
o Thickness of what is being measured
o Skill of the measurer
o Use the smallest graduation to estimate the uncertainty

Balances
See also pages 33-34
Do not insert tools into reagent bottles
Do not put chemicals back into reagent bottles
Keep the balances clean

Techniques lab
Part A
o Practice with balance and be sure to record the correct sig figs and
uncertainties.
o Use the analytical balance for the copper and the top loading balance
for the water

Part C
o Use the table but measure only the length and width of the student card

Work in Pairs
Get your notebook signed by a TA

For next lab

Do your WHMIS training, buy a labcoat, goggles,
hardbound notebook and pay your lab fee if you
have not already done so
read and prepare for the next lab (according to
the schedule)
o Prelab on notebook (Title, Purpose, Chemical Hazards)

Finish for a quiz and pre-lab calculations on cuLearn

regarding the next lab
o Generally questions concerning the prelab, theory, procedure, equations,
calculations, safety steps, etc