Experiment 1

Basic Laboratory Techniques

Objective:
1. To use triple beam balance.
2. To measure the weight using differentiating weighing method.
3. To measure the accurate and inaccurate measuring liquid volume apparatus based
on calculated volume from weight and density information.
4. To record data using the right apparatus.

Introduction:
Laboratory experiment is an important part in chemistry course which required a good
observation and utilization of right laboratory technique. Through the experiment, student
will be exposed on basic and appropriate methods in Chemistry.
It is important to record the correct measuring number in order to show the accuracy of
apparatus. This technique involved the concept of significant figures and round-up
numbers.
Weighing: Triple Beam Balance and Electrical Balance
Triple beam balance was created to weigh with the accuracy near to 0.0 gram (one
decimal point) and for electrical balance is near to 0.0000 gram. The basic principle for
modern balance is to vary the weight of material which is unknown with the known

weight.
Weighing Volume: The volume measurement can be carried out using measuring cylinder,
pipette, burette, volumetric flask etc.
Volumes measurement made using pipette and burette are more accurate than measuring
cylinder.

Apparatus:
Triple beam balance
Weighing bottle
Erlenmeyer flask 4 x 250 mL
Burette 1 x 50 mL
Pipette 1 x 25 mL
Beaker 1 x 50 mL or 25 mL
Measuring cylinder 1 x 50 mL or 25 mL

Material:
Water
Coin 1 cent x 20

Data:
A.Weighing
Type of apparatus
Weight of 1cent coins20 (g)
Triple beam balance
38.0
Electrical balance
38.0312
Table 1 : Weight of 1cent coins20(g) by using different weighing balance
B.Volume Measurement
Erlenmeyer Flask
Weight(g)
A
111.9456
B
111.4967
C
106.5361
D
136.4423
Table 2.1 : Weight of Erlenmeyer flask without water
Flask
A
Initial burette reading(ml)
45.05
Final burette reading(ml)
20.05
Volume of water added(ml)
25.00
Table 2.2 : Volume of water added into flask A by using burette
Flask
Weight with water(g)
A
137.0481
B
137.1241
C
130.9920
D
158.6321
Table 2.3 : Weight of each flask with 25 ml of water

Calculation : Water density= M(mass of flask with water-mass of flask without water)
V
1. Flask A

Water density= (137.0481-111.9456)g

25.00ml
=1.0041gml
2. Flask B
Water density= (137.1241-111.4967)g
25.00ml
=1.0251gml
3. Flask C
Water density=(130.9920-106.5361)g
25.0ml
=0.9782gml
4. Flask D
Water density=(158.6321-136.4423)g
25.0ml
=0.8876gml

Discussion
From the experiment, burette showed the nearest reading to the density of water which is 1.00
gml. This were followed by pipette(1.02gml), beaker(0.9782gml) and measuring
cylinder(0.8876gml)

The experiment proved that burette is the most accurate apparatus to measure the volume of
water. This is deducted as the result obtained from the burette measurement is 1.00gml. The
burette is the most accurate as it is so graduated making it easy to read the volume accurately.
Besides, burette has a tap to regulate the amount of liquid added into the Erlenmeyer flask. The
burette and pipette are both technically equally accurate referring on the decimal places but it
also depends on how accurate you read off the values, and whether you fill them up properly.
As for the pipette, the reading was less accurate than the burette which is 1.02gml. A little error
may happen when we filled up the pipette with water. As we know, the water is pumped into the
pipette. This may lead to a small mistake in ensuring that the pipette is accurately filled to the
mark as the pumping process is very fast and need a very high attention for the pumper.
Eventually, mistake may happen when we pump up the water and the water is not filled
accurately to the mark.
The beaker and measuring cylinder showed the most inaccurate reading which were 0.9782 for
beaker and 0.8876 for measuring cylinder. This is because they have wider diameter compared to
burette and pipette. The larger the container, the larger the discrepancy. The reading taken from
the beaker and measuring cylinder is imprecise because of the discrepancy. Our naked eyes may
see the reading is perfect but actually it is not.
However, there must some another mistake in this experiment as we got the result that showed
the beaker is more accurate than measuring cylinder. This is irrational as the measuring cylinder
is totally has a smaller diameter compare to the beaker. Mistake may be happen when we take the
reading of the measuring cylinder. The eyes may be not accurately perpendicular to the scale of
reading. Besides, the measuring cylinder may have not been placed on the flat surface when the
reading was taken. To avoid this kind of mistake from happening again, ensure that the apparatus
is placed on a totally flat surface and make sure the eyes is perpendicular to the reading before
any reading is taken.
For the final result for this experiment, the burette measures the volume accurately compare
to pipette, beaker and measuring cylinder. This is because the burette resulted the nearest value to
the density of water which is 1.00gml.

Conclusion
From the experiment, it is shown that the burette and pipette has more accuracy in measuring
the volume compare to measuring cylinder and beaker. In addition, each of this apparatus has
their own accuracy and precision.

References
1. https://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;_ylt=A2oKmMix3fRX4WoAAhQPQgx.;_ylu
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qid=20080918062608AAaSSII
2. http://blogshewrote.org/2014/10/27/comparing-accuracy-liquid-measurement-tools/
3. https://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;_ylt=A2oKmMqI3vRXMTsAGOkPQgx.;_ylu
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