Volumetric glassware such as pipette, burette and measuring cylinders are commonly used in the laboratory in measuring the volume of liquids. Measuring cylinders are less accurate since they are mostly calibrated with graduated marks at every 1 cubic centimeters. You have to estimate the liquid between the marked graduations of the flask. For precision, use pipettes, as they are more accurate in comparison to the measuring cylinders, since the liquid is released in drops, giving precise volume of the solution needed. Burettes also are more accurate and have graduations at every 0.1 cc so the reading should be taken at no more or less than 0.05 cc for accuracy. The volume used in experiments also can be calculated by taking the initial reading at the start of the experiment on the burette and the value at the end. To reduce the percentage error, ensure both readings are accurate, as this reduces the probability of making a double error.
Thermometers have graduations for every 1 degree centigrade, so when reading a temperature of maybe 10 degrees centigrade, ensure it is not less than 9.5 but not more than 10.5, as this puts the margin error at plus or minus 0.5 degrees Celsius, giving a percentage error of 5 percent. When taking a variety of temperatures during experiments, avoid giving higher or lower values from the actual values, as this could increase the overall percentage error of the outcomes.
Choose accurate balances that read up to 0.001 grams when measuring the mass of substances in the laboratory. Such balances give lower percentage errors, for example a reading of 0.001 grams is taken at not less than 0.9995 grams and not more than 1.0005 grams, giving the percentage error of about 0.05 percent. For balances reading at 0.01 grams, the same reading is more than 0.9995 grams but not higher than 1.005, giving a percentage error of 0.5 percent.
Reading the graduations on all measuring instruments carefully significantly reduces the percentage error in chemistry experiments. The percentage error in the experiment is made up of individual errors made from measuring the temperature, mass or volumes in the lab. Learn which variables you constantly make bigger errors as this helps in improving accuracy of the experiment results.