Experiment 1: Basic Techniques of Handling Chemicals and Laboratory Apparatus

Activity: Determining the density of water and analysing it qualitatively and

quantitatively
Materials and apparatus:
Burette, beaker, glass rod, filter funnel, pipette ,analytical balance , top loading
balancing, measuring cylinder 10 mL, pipette, tap water
Objectives:
1. To understand and abide laboratory safety rules and regulations
2. To acquire the correct techniques of handling laboratory apparatus

Procedure:
1.
2.
3.
4.

The initial mass of the beaker is measured by using electronic balance.

The burette was set-up to measure volume of water needed.
With a proper technique of using the burette, water is filled up into the burette.
After that, 10 mL of water is transferred into the beaker. Then the mass of the
beaker filled with water is measured by analytical balance. The mass is
recorded and this is done in three times.
5. Then the mass recorded is subtracted with the initial mass of the beaker the
get mass of the water.
6. Next, the density of the water is calculated and recorded by using the formula:
Density of water=

mass
volume

7. The results are tabulated.

8. Steps 2 to 6 are repeated by using measuring cylinder 10mL and pipette.
Results:
Qualitative data:
1. The burette with the density of water 0.9923 g/mL calculated is the most
accurate because it has the most closest density of water to the theoretical
density which is 1.000 g/mL
2. The measuring cylinder with the density of water 0.9157 g/mL calculated is
the least accurate because its density of water is not too close to the
theoretical density which is 1.000 g/mL
3. The burette with the density of water 0.9880 g/mL calculated is the accurate
because it has the closer density of water than measuring cylinder but lesser
than burette to the theoretical density which is 1.000 g/mL

Quantitative data:
Apparatus

Mass
of beaker
filled with
beaker 10mL
(g)
of tap
water (g)
1
2

49.32

59.22

59.26

59.25

9.900

9.940

Measuring 49.32
cylinder

58.70

58.67

58.06

9.380

59.25

59.15

59.20

9.930

Burette

Pipette

Initial
mass
of

49.32

Mass of
Water(g)

Average
mass of
water (g)

Density
of water
(g/ml)

Percenta
of accura
measurin
volume o
substanc
(%)

9.930

9.923

0.9923

99.23

9.350

8.740

9.157

0.9157

91.57

9.830

9.880

9.880

0.9880

98.80

Graph of Percentage Accuarcy against Apparatus

percentage of accuracy in measuring volume of sunstance(%)

Apparatus

Discussion:

The experiment is carried out to identify the most accurate apparatus among the
three apparatus chosen which are burette, measuring cylinder, and pipette. The
results shown that burette is the most accurate among the three apparatus because
it has density 99.23 g/mL with the percentage accuracy 99.23% of percentage error
0.77%. The percentage error can be reduced by making sure that there is no air
bubble at the end of the tip. By the way, when taking the measurement eyes must be
perpendicular to the meniscus level to avoid parallax error and the burette must be
rinsed with distilled water before be used.
The second accurate apparatus is pipette, it has the density 0.9880 g/mL with
percentage of accuracy 98.80% it has percentage error which is 1.2%. This error can
be reduced by taking the measurement where by the eyes is perpendicular to the
meniscus level. The water itself must has no impurities and the pipette must be
rinsed before be used.
Measuring cylinder is the least accurate as it has density of water 0.9157 g/mL with
percentage of accuracy 91.57%, it has percentage error of . this error is occurred as
there some water not transferred into the beaker from the measuring cylinder. It is
can be overcome by taking the measurement three times and calculated the
average.

References: