# 1.5 Measurement uncertainty, accuracy, and precision  (Page 5/11)

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Suppose a quality control chemist at a pharmaceutical company is tasked with checking the accuracy and precision of three different machines that are meant to dispense 10 ounces (296 mL) of cough syrup into storage bottles. She proceeds to use each machine to fill five bottles and then carefully determines the actual volume dispensed, obtaining the results tabulated in [link] .

Volume (mL) of Cough Medicine Delivered by 10-oz (296 mL) Dispensers
Dispenser #1 Dispenser #2 Dispenser #3
283.3 298.3 296.1
284.1 294.2 295.9
283.9 296.0 296.1
284.0 297.8 296.0
284.1 293.9 296.1

Considering these results, she will report that dispenser #1 is precise (values all close to one another, within a few tenths of a milliliter) but not accurate (none of the values are close to the target value of 296 mL, each being more than 10 mL too low). Results for dispenser #2 represent improved accuracy (each volume is less than 3 mL away from 296 mL) but worse precision (volumes vary by more than 4 mL). Finally, she can report that dispenser #3 is working well, dispensing cough syrup both accurately (all volumes within 0.1 mL of the target volume) and precisely (volumes differing from each other by no more than 0.2 mL).

## Key concepts and summary

Quantities can be exact or measured. Measured quantities have an associated uncertainty that is represented by the number of significant figures in the measurement. The uncertainty of a calculated value depends on the uncertainties in the values used in the calculation and is reflected in how the value is rounded. Measured values can be accurate (close to the true value) and/or precise (showing little variation when measured repeatedly).

## Chemistry end of chapter exercises

Express each of the following numbers in scientific notation with correct significant figures:

(a) 711.0

(b) 0.239

(c) 90743

(d) 134.2

(e) 0.05499

(f) 10000.0

(g) 0.000000738592

Express each of the following numbers in exponential notation with correct significant figures:

(a) 704

(b) 0.03344

(c) 547.9

(d) 22086

(e) 1000.00

(f) 0.0000000651

(g) 0.007157

(a) 7.04 $×$ 10 2 ; (b) 3.344 $×$ 10 −2 ; (c) 5.479 $×$ 10 2 ; (d) 2.2086 $×$ 10 4 ; (e) 1.00000 $×$ 10 3 ; (f) 6.51 $×$ 10 −8 ; (g) 7.157 $×$ 10 −3

Indicate whether each of the following can be determined exactly or must be measured with some degree of uncertainty:

(a) the number of eggs in a basket

(b) the mass of a dozen eggs

(c) the number of gallons of gasoline necessary to fill an automobile gas tank

(d) the number of cm in 2 m

(e) the mass of a textbook

(f) the time required to drive from San Francisco to Kansas City at an average speed of 53 mi/h

Indicate whether each of the following can be determined exactly or must be measured with some degree of uncertainty:

(a) the number of seconds in an hour

(b) the number of pages in this book

(c) the number of grams in your weight

(d) the number of grams in 3 kilograms

(e) the volume of water you drink in one day

(f) the distance from San Francisco to Kansas City

(a) exact; (b) exact; (c) uncertain; (d) exact; (e) uncertain; (f) uncertain

How many significant figures are contained in each of the following measurements?

(a) 38.7 g

(b) 2 $×$ 10 18 m

(c) 3,486,002 kg

(d) 9.74150 $×$ 10 −4 J

(e) 0.0613 cm 3

(f) 17.0 kg

(g) 0.01400 g/mL

How many significant figures are contained in each of the following measurements?

(a) 53 cm

(b) 2.05 $×$ 10 8 m

(c) 86,002 J

(d) 9.740 $×$ 10 4 m/s

(e) 10.0613 m 3

(f) 0.17 g/mL

(g) 0.88400 s

(a) two; (b) three; (c) five; (d) four; (e) six; (f) two; (g) five

The following quantities were reported on the labels of commercial products. Determine the number of significant figures in each.

(a) 0.0055 g active ingredients

(b) 12 tablets

(c) 3% hydrogen peroxide

(d) 5.5 ounces

(e) 473 mL

(f) 1.75% bismuth

(g) 0.001% phosphoric acid

(h) 99.80% inert ingredients

Round off each of the following numbers to two significant figures:

(a) 0.436

(b) 9.000

(c) 27.2

(d) 135

(e) 1.497 $×$ 10 −3

(f) 0.445

(a) 0.44; (b) 9.0; (c) 27; (d) 140; (e) 1.5 $×$ 10 −3 ; (f) 0.44

Round off each of the following numbers to two significant figures:

(a) 517

(b) 86.3

(c) 6.382 $×$ 10 3

(d) 5.0008

(e) 22.497

(f) 0.885

Perform the following calculations and report each answer with the correct number of significant figures.

(a) 628 $×$ 342

(b) (5.63 $×$ 10 2 ) $×$ (7.4 $×$ 10 3 )

(c) $\frac{28.0}{13.483}$

(d) 8119 $×$ 0.000023

(e) 14.98 + 27,340 + 84.7593

(f) 42.7 + 0.259

(a) 2.15 $×$ 10 5 ; (b) 4.2 $×$ 10 6 ; (c) 2.08; (d) 0.19; (e) 27,440; (f) 43.0

Perform the following calculations and report each answer with the correct number of significant figures.

(a) 62.8 $×$ 34

(b) 0.147 + 0.0066 + 0.012

(c) 38 $×$ 95 $×$ 1.792

(d) 15 – 0.15 – 0.6155

(e) $8.78\phantom{\rule{0.2em}{0ex}}×\phantom{\rule{0.2em}{0ex}}\left(\frac{0.0500}{0.478}\right)$

(f) 140 + 7.68 + 0.014

(g) 28.7 – 0.0483

(h) $\frac{\left(88.5-87.57\right)}{45.13}$

Consider the results of the archery contest shown in this figure.

(a) Which archer is most precise?

(b) Which archer is most accurate?

(c) Who is both least precise and least accurate?

(a) Archer X; (b) Archer W; (c) Archer Y

Classify the following sets of measurements as accurate, precise, both, or neither.

(a) Checking for consistency in the weight of chocolate chip cookies: 17.27 g, 13.05 g, 19.46 g, 16.92 g

(b) Testing the volume of a batch of 25-mL pipettes: 27.02 mL, 26.99 mL, 26.97 mL, 27.01 mL

(c) Determining the purity of gold: 99.9999%, 99.9998%, 99.9998%, 99.9999%

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Afiwape
chemistry is a brach of science which deal with the study of the nature, composition structure and with the force that hold the structure together and the change matter will undergo undedifferent conditions
Afiwape
And god has created everything from nothing
Abdelkarim
forms of biotechnology
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pls give me 3 type of transition metal
Copper, Scandium, Vanadium, Iron, Chromium, Cobalt
Jumaane-Kalif
ion zinc hydrogen
Abdul
that is not true
Jumaane-Kalif
stop posting foolishness
Jumaane-Kalif
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depends on the compound. as you may know there's transition metal compounds and there's organic compounds and so on and so forth.
Jumaane-Kalif
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electricity refers to the flow electrons
John
Hi. please can you tell me more on chemical equation
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Abdelkarim
Mole of water molecules. In that example we multipied by 6.02*10^23 or avogadro constant (L). Or 2 Na+ ions with two water molecules. The arrow means '' to form '' Some times conditions or reactants are written above the arrow like H+ or enzyme or temper, sometimes physical states are written
Abdelkarim
Beside the chemical Aqueous (aq) which means solute dissolved on water. Solid (s) etc Some chemical equations are written next to it ΔH= # which means enthalpy change which describes if the reaction is endothermic (+) or exothermic (-).
Abdelkarim
Some are reversible and have half double arrow sign.
Abdelkarim
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Lorrita
A compound is the result of chemical bonding between 2 or more different elements.
Abdelkarim
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the same number of electron , proton present in an atom.thats why it is electrically neutral
debibandita
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Abdelkarim
That was partially described mathematically. As a muslim, we believe that god created all matter from nothing. He is the Able, and only who can create matter in the begging in the big bang that was described in the Quran in chapter 17 verse 30, 1400 years ago, you can read it from internet.
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