FACULTY OF SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, AND INNOVATION

DEPARTMENT OF CHEMISTRY

TO : MR KAUNDA

FROM : BACHELORS OF EDUCATION IN SCIENCE STUDENT

NAME : MPHATSO KAMIZA WINSTON (BEDS 13223)

PROGRAM : BACHELORS OF EDUCATION IN SCIENCES

LEVEL :1

SEMESTER : 1

SUBJECT : MEASURING VOLUMES OF LIQUIDS

The objective of the report is as follows to identify meniscus of liquids in different measuring
apparatus, to read the volume of test tubes from burette and measuring cylinder and to prove if
100ml volumetric flask is filled by 25ml pipette.
Liquids can be measured by using different apparatus such as measuring cylinder; burette, beaker
and volumetric flask just to mention a few. However during measuring there is need to observe
meniscus accurately. According to James walker (2014), the term meniscus refers to the curved
surface of a liquid in a container due to interaction between liquid molecules and surface of the
container. When observing meniscus make sure eyes are in the same level with the meniscus, for
accuracy use a burette unlike measuring cylinder because burette gives the volume it delivers
while a volumetric flask usually used to hold volumes and consequently falls under the group of
to contain ; (TCS). In addition to this, volumetric flask is used only when approximate volumes
are required. Burette should be measured to nearest 0.01ml.The volume indicated on pipette is
also the volume of liquid it delivers. The liquid should be filled so that the bottom of the
meniscus coincides with the graduation mark.

During the experiment, these were materials used, wash bottle containing distilled water, test
tubes, measuring cylinder 10ml, burette 50ml, pipette filler, pipette 25ml, 100ml beaker,
volumetric flask 100ml, dropper, clamp and restort stand.

The first experiment was to identify meniscus. Distilled water was added to the measuring
cylinder using wash bottle. This was done rapidly at first then drop by drop towards the end until
the bottom of the meniscus was at 10ml graduation mark. Then the meniscus was observed by
making sure that eyes were in same level with meniscus as shown in the following figure.

The second experiment was to measure the volume of a test tube using a measuring cylinder. The
measuring cylinder was filled with water up to the 10ml level mark. Then water was transferred
into a test tube until completely full. The results were recorded as below:
RUN 1 2 3 AVERAGE
Initial volume of water in 40.0 50.0 50.0 46.6
measuring cylinder
Final volume of water in 0 9.4 9 6.13
measuring cylinder after
transferring into the test tube
Volume of water delivered 40.0 40.6 41.0 40.53
into the test tube

 average of initial volume of water in measuring cylinder is ;;

Average= (40.0+50.0+50.0) ÷ 3=46.6ml
 average of final volume of water in measuring flask
Average= (0+9.4+9.0) ÷3 = 6.13ml
 To find the water delivered into the test tubes
1st run = (40.0-0) =40ml
2nd run = (50.0-9.6) =40.6ml
3rd run = (50.0-9.00) = 41.0ml
Therefore volume of test tube
o (1st run +2nd run+3rd run) ÷3
(40.0+40.6+41.0)÷3=40.53ml
Volume of test tube=40.53ml

The conclusion was that the average mark of test tube used was 40.53ml.

Third experiment was to measure volume of a test tube using burette. In this experiment burette
was filled with distilled water until the bottom of meniscus was at the 0.00ml mark, the tap of the
burette was pressed and water was added to a test tube. Then the results were as follows;

RUN 1 2 3 4 AVERAGE
Final volume of burette 37.80 36.30 44.80 41.30 40.05
Initial volume of burette 2.00 0.50 9.00 5.10 4.15
Volume of water transferred to test 35.80 35.80 35.80 36.20 35.90
tube

To find volume of water transferred to test tubes

 1st run = (35.80 – 2.00)=35.80ml

 2nd run = (36.30-0.50)=35.80ml
 3rd run=(44.80-9.00)=35.80ml
 4th run= (42.30-5.10) =36.20ml

To find average final volume of burette = (37.80+ 36.30+44.80+41.30) ÷4=40.05ml

To find average initial volume of burette= (2.00+0.50+9.00+5.10) ÷4=4.15ml

Average volume of water transferred to test tube= (35.80+35.5+35.80+36.20)÷ 4=35.90ml

 Therefore, volume of test tube =35.90ml

Conclusion was that the volume of a test tube was 35.90ml.

It is recommended not to fill a burette to the zeroth mark, because there might be air bubbles
trapped inside the tip that can be released during experiment, causing a sudden drop in the
volume of the titration reading to inaccurate reading.

Fourth experiment was to find out if 4×25ml volumes from the pipette sufficient to fill the 100ml
volumetric flask to the mark. The water was taken from the beaker using a pipette with an aid of
a pipette filler then water was transferred to the volumetric flask. This step was repeated four
times.

It was observed that volumetric flask was filled below the graduated mark, after filling it with
4×25ml volumes. The reasons were; the pipette filler was not working well, inaccuracy of
reading meniscus and some drops were falling down when transferring water into the volumetric
flask.

Conclusion, 4×25ml full pipette of distilled water failed to reach the 100ml graduated mark of
volumetric flask due to those errors mentioned above during the experiment.
 ANSWERING AFTER PRACTICAL QUESTION

1. Accuracy is how close a measured value is to true value while precision refers to how
close the measurements are to each other. When proving the known volume 100ml
volumetric by using pipette it is found a range 96, 94, 95 while burette it is found on 98.9
,99 and 99.2 which means gives precise results and burette gives accurate results.
2. Milliliters, liters, centimeters,
 3. Volume is measured by adding liquid to the cylinder and comparing the liquid level to
the graduated scale. Make sure that your eye and meniscus are in the same level and
holding measuring cylinder carefully to avoid breaking it.
4. measuring cylinder is high precise because it measures the approximate volume of liquid
so results obtained are not accurate that make it be precise, while burette is low precise
because it measures the delivered volume of liquid accurately that makes it be low
precise.

According to Michael (1996) significant figures are important digits which conveys the
meaning according to its accuracy and it shows the precision of measurements or
calculations in chemistry, math or other discipline.

5. 25.60 Four significant figures because the zero mark of graduated cylinder is 0.00ml
therefore if there is 25.6ml it will be 25.60 in order to have 2decimal place.
6. When measuring small volume full of liquids and if a high degree of accuracy is
necessary. Its advisable to use a pipette.
7. Its advantage: (a). The volume of liquid being used from a burette can be controlled from
a knob.
(b). Ensure collect amount of liquid is delivered

8 Its limitations :(a). The liquid is filled from the top which can be spilled and would be

difficult to read the meniscus from the top in the burette.

(b). If the knob is not functioning properly it may lead to wrong results

9.According to David Harvey during preparation of standard solutions volumetric flasks are
commonly used in analytical chemistry for the preparation of standard solution of known
concentration. The volume marks on the flask allow for precise dilution to achieve the desired
concentration.
10. First displaces air from the bulb using part labeled A, the second part labelled S is used to
draw liquid into the pipette and the third part labelled E is used to expel the liquid from the
pipette.

REFERENCES

Jessie.J. 2023 How to measure liquids

Theodore L.B., Bruce E.B., Catherine M. & Patrick W. 2021, chemistry, the central science
Balsah singh and Michael Birch (2016). Averaging

Lisa A. seidman and Cynthia J.Moore , Copyright 2000

Maran ahadban , John Williams , 2023 . Study. Com

Grey Michael 1996, physics made simple SF

https// screncing. Com / mesoure -liquids -using https – graduated – cylinder -751448