High School Chemistry : Measurements
Study concepts, example questions & explanations for High School Chemistry
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Example Questions
Example Question #14 : Calculating Error
After conducting an experiment, Kevin produced 56.2 kg of sulfur dioxide gas. However, he was supposed to have been able to produce 84.0 kg of sulfur dioxide gas. What was his percent error?
Use the following formula to find the percent error:
For this experiment, our accepted value is the same as the theoretical value.
Example Question #16 : Precision, Accuracy, And Error
At the beginning of the experiment, Jimmy calculated an expected yield of 
Percent error is a calculation usually completed at the end of an experiment for data analysis. It is in essence a tool that can be used to calculate the precision of your calculations. This can be done by following the equation:
Experimental represents that value that was experimentally obtained. Accepted represents that value that would have been accepted.
This quickly turns into a "plug and chug" type of problem.
For this problem:
experimental:
accepted:
Example Question #18 : Calculating Error
In the following reaction, eight moles of sodium hydroxide is broken down into four moles of sodium oxide and four moles of water. What is the percent error if your experiment yields 195 grams of sodium oxide?
To find the percent error we need to use the following equation:
But in order to do this, we first have to convert moles of sodium oxide into grams:
This gives us a theoretical yield of 248g, which we plug in with our 195g actual yield.
Example Question #15 : Calculating Error
In the following reaction, eight moles of sodium hydroxide is broken down into four moles of sodium oxide and four moles of water. What is the percent error if your experiment yields 195 grams of sodium oxide?
To find the percent error we need to use the following equation:
But in order to do this, we first have to convert moles of sodium oxide into grams:
This gives us a theoretical yield of 248g, which we plug in with our 195g actual yield.
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