Accuracy and Precision

ACCURACY AND PRECISION
Introduction:
Mass and volume are extrinsic properties which depend on the quantity of a substance.
Density, which is the ratio of mass to volume (D=m/V), is an intrinsic property. The
density of a substance is a constant and is characteristic of the substance. Therefore,
density can be used to aid in the identification of a substance. However, the density of a
substance may vary with its temperature. In this lab the mass and volume of water will be
measured, and the density of the water will be calculated. This value will be compared to
the accepted density of water at the relevant temperature. The accuracy and precision of
the measurements will also be determined.
Purpose:
The purpose of this experiment is to determine the density of water and calculate the
accuracy of the density determination and the precision of the density determination.
Equipment/Materials:
30 mL beaker deionized water
250 mL beaker 1 mL micropipet
10 mL graduated cylinder top loader balance
volumetric pipet analytical balance
thermometer
Procedure:
Beaker and top loader balance
1. Place ~100 mL of deionized water in a 250 mL beaker. Measure the temperature of the
water and record it on the data table.
2. Place a clean, dry 30 mL beaker on the top loader balance. Tare.
3. Remove the beaker from the balance and pour a small amount of deionized water into
it. Using the graduations on the beaker, read the volume and record it in the data table.
4. Place the beaker on the balance and record the mass of the water in the data table.
5. Repeat for trials 2 & 3.
Graduated cylinder and top loader balance
6. Place a clean dry 30 mL beaker on the top loader balance. Tare.
7. Pour a small amount of deionized water in a 10 mL graduated cylinder. Using the

graduations on the cylinder, read the volume as precisely as possible and record in the
data table.
8. Pour the water into the tared beaker and place the beaker on the balance. Record the
mass in the data table.
Pipet and top loader balance
11. Using a volumetric pipet, add deionized water to the 30 mL beaker. Record the
volume of water added to the beaker.
12. Place the beaker on the balance and record the mass in the data table.
Micropipet and top loader balance
15. Using the micropipet as the measuring instrument for volume, add 1.000 mL of
deionized water to the 30 mL beaker. Record the volume of water added to the beaker.
16. Place the beaker on the balance and record the mass of the water in the data table.
Analytical balance
18. Repeat each of the above sets of procedures using the analytical balance in place of the
top loader balance.
Data table:
Temperature of water ______ oC
Beaker and top loader balance

Trial Vol Mass Density
1
2
3
Average Density _______

Graduated cylinder and top loader balance
Trial Vol Mass Density
1
2
3
Pipet and top loader balance
Trials Vol Mass Density
1
2
3

Micropipet and top loader balance
1
2
3

Beaker and analytical balance
1
2
3

Graduated cylinder and analytical balance
1
2
3
Pipet and analytical balance

1
2
3

Micropipet and analytical balance
Trails Vol Mass Density
1
2
3

Calculations/Results:
1. Actual density of water at recorded temperature : _________
2. Calculate the % error (accuracy) for each density average value
% ERROR = Actual - Ave calc density / actual density x 100%
Top loader Analytical

BEAKER
GRAD
PIPET
MICRO
3. Calculate the precision (standard deviation) of each set of data
standard deviation =[((x - x1)²)/(n – 1)]1/2
where x = density for each individual trial

x1= average density
n = number of trials
Top loader Analytical
BEAKER
GRAD
PIPET
MICRO
Questions:
1. Which method of determining density was the most accurate?
2. Which method of determining density was the most precise?
3. Did the mass shown on the analytical balance tend to decrease with time? If so, why?
If not, why not?
4. Density can be determined mathematically and graphically. What are the advantages
of each method? What are the disadvantages of each method?
ACCURACY AND PRECISION
TEACHER NOTES
Lab Time: 60-80 minutes
Preparations:
Time: 15 minutes
Make available stations for each combination of equipment.
Answers to Questions:
1. Which method of determining density was most accurate?

Answers will vary depending upon data.
2. Which method of determining density was most precise?

Answers will vary depending upon data.
3. Did the mass shown on the analytical balance tend to decrease with time? If so, why?
If not, why not?
Yes. This loss of mass is due to the evaporation of water.
4. Density can be determined mathematically and graphically. What are the advantages
of each method? What are the disadvantages of each method?
Answers will vary. Some answers may include less time for mathematically but
graphically eliminates some error due to individual measurements.
Considerations:
Students should discover that the most accurate and precise combination is the
analytical balance and micropipet. However, actual results will depend on individual data.
It may be discussed that this accuracy and precision is not always needed. For
approximations, a beaker or graduated cylinder may be fine. If 30 mL beakers are not
available, 50 mL beakers may be substituted. The lab time can be shortened by reducing
the number of trials and/or sharing data among lab groups.

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ACCURACY AND PRECISION

Beaker and top loader balance

2. Place a clean, dry 30 mL beaker on the top loader balance. Tare.

5. Repeat for trials 2 & 3.

Graduated cylinder and top loader balance

6. Place a clean dry 30 mL beaker on the top loader balance. Tare.

7. Pour a small amount of deionized water in a 10 mL graduated cylinder. Using the

9. Repeat for trials 2 & 3.

Pipet and top loader balance

13. Repeat for trials 2 & 3.

Micropipet and top loader balance

17. Repeat for trials 2 & 3.

Temperature of water ______ oC

Beaker and top loader balance

Average Density _______

Average Density _______

Average Density _______

Average Density _______

Average Density _______

Pipet and analytical balance

Average Density _______

Average Density _______

1. Actual density of water at recorded temperature : _________

2. Calculate the % error (accuracy) for each density average value

% ERROR = Actual - Ave calc density / actual density x 100%

Top loader Analytical

3. Calculate the precision (standard deviation) of each set of data

standard deviation =[((x - x1)²)/(n – 1)]1/2

where x = density for each individual trial

1. Which method of determining density was the most accurate?

2. Which method of determining density was the most precise?

Lab Time: 60-80 minutes

Make available stations for each combination of equipment.

1. Which method of determining density was most accurate?

2. Which method of determining density was most precise?

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