LAB REPORT

CHM138
BASIC CHEMISTRY
EXPERIMENT 1
BASIC LABORATORY TECHNIQUES
STUDENT’S NAME & STUDENT’S ID:
1. MUHAMMAD ASYRAAF HAQIMI BIN BAHARIN
(2020882148)
2. MUHAMMAD HARITH BIN MOHAMAD TAUFIK
(2020452316)
3. FAQIHAH KHALILAH BINTI IDHAM KHALIL
(2020851996)
CLASS GROUP: RAS1131C
DATE OF EXPERIMENT: 19 OCTOBER 2020
DATE OF REPORT SUBMISSION:
LECTURER’S NAME: NOOR HAFIZAH BINTI UYUP
OBJECTIVES
1. To learn the qualitative and quantitative aspects of common laboratory equipment.
2. To expose student to the factors that affect the accuracy of an experiment.

INTRODUCTION
Chemistry is an experimental science. It depends upon careful observation and the use of good
laboratory techniques. Most of the experiments in the chemistry laboratory involve quantitative
analytical procedure. It is involving the use of common glassware for example burette, pipette,
volumetric flask etc. These glassware are used to measure the volume of solutions at certain
temperature. The volume of a liquid change with temperature, to get the accuracy, the apparatus
involves to measure the volume of solutions have to be calibrated before used.

Mistakes and errors can happen during an experiment. A mistake is a blunder or unintentional
action whose consequence is undesirable. Error on the other hand, account for the range of
values obtained from successive measurements of the same quantity, even though there was no
mistake in any of the measurement. Error may be either systematic or random. A systematic
error can happen when an apparatus which is not calibrated is used. The measurement will
always be too large or, alternatively, too small. A systematic error will influence the accuracy
of a measurement, that is, the agreement between a measured value of a quantity and its true
value. A random error will be the evident when a measuring device, even a very accurate one,
is used a number times to make the same measurement. Both errors can be reduced by using
calibrated apparatus and careful when doing experiment.

a) Volumetric flask

A volumetric flask is glassware designed to deliver the standard solution at precise known
volume of liquid at given temperature. The actual volume of liquid in the flask can be
determined by weighing the empty flask then flask and distilled water. The difference
between both readings is equal to the mass of water. The volume of water in the flask can be
calculated from Table 1. Volumetric flasks are used to make solutions of known
concentration by the dissolution of a known mass of solid or the dilution of a more
concentrated solution. Before use, always wash the flask and then pre-rinse with the solvent.
Some frequently used volumes in General Chemistry lab are 10.00, 25.00, 50.00, 100.00, and
250.0 mL flasks. At times the zeros to the right of the decimal point are omitted. However,
these zeros must always be considered in calculations, as they indicate the accuracy of the
volume measurement. (i.e., they are significant figures).

b) Pipette

Pipettes are glass vessels that are constructed and calibrated so as to deliver a precisely known
volume of liquid at a given temperature. Transfer and Mohr pipette are two types of common
pipette usually found in the laboratory. A transfer pipette is calibrated to deliver only one
volume, whereas a Mohr pipette is graduated so that it can deliver any volume (usually to
nearest tenth of a millilitre) up to maximum volume. Transfer pipettes come in many sizes, but
5 mL, 10 mL, 20 mL, 25 mL pipette are usually found in general chemistry laboratories.
Common volume of Mohr pipette are 1 mL, 5 mL and 10 mL volume. The correct use of a
pipette requires considerable manipulatory skill.
Step-by step procedures for correct usage are:
a) Rinse the pipette with the solution to be used.
b) Insert the pipette into the solution and suck using pipette filler (suction bulb). The
solution is about 1 to 2 cm above the etched line on the pipette.
c) Drain the excess into a waste container until the bottom of the meniscus coincides with
etched line.
d) Allow the liquid in the pipette to drain into the flask to be used in the experiment. Touch
off the last drop. (Do not blow the remaining liquid from the pipette. The pipette was
calibrated to deliver the correct volume with this liquid remaining in it).
The actual volume of solution (pipette volume) can be measured by weighing the solution
that has been transferred using that pipette. From the density of the solution, we can
calculate the volume of solution (pipette volume).
c) Burette
A burette (also buret) is a vertical cylindrical piece of laboratory glassware with a volumetric
graduation on its full length and a precision tap, or stopcock, on the bottom. It is used to
dispense known amounts of a liquid reagent in experiments for which such precision is
necessary, such as a titration experiment. Burettes are extremely accurate - a 50 mL burette
has a tolerance of 0.1 mL (class B) or 0.06 mL (class A). The difference between starting and
final volume is the amount dispensed. The spacing between the lines will allow you to
estimate the volume to the nearest 0.01 mL. Thus, typical burette readings would be two
decimal points, for example, 9.34 mL or 17.60 mL. Reading such as 9.3 mL or 17.6 mL are
not acceptable. The following are the step will help you to have a burette that operates as it
should:

a) Clean and rinse the burette with tap water, then distilled water.
b) Rinse the burette with about 5-10 mL of the solution.
c) Fill burette above the zero mark with the stop cork closed. Open the stopcock fully so that
the liquid drains rapidly to flush out air bubble in the tip of the burette. Drain the burette
until the meniscus rest at a certain number, for example, 1 mL marks (or 0 mL marks).
Read the burette to 2 decimal places with your eye on the same level as the meniscus.
d) To obtain the volume of the solution (liquid) that you use in titration, subtract the initial
reading from the final reading.
To calibrate the burette, transfer several volumes of solution from the burette and weigh
accurately. From the density of the solution, we can calculate the volume of solution that
has been transferred.
 Table 1: Density of Water (g/mL) at Various Temperatures (°C)

Temperature (°C) Density of water (g/mL)

22 1.0032
23 1.0034
24 1.0037
25 1.0039
26 1.0042
27 1.0045
28 1.0047
29 1.0050
30 1.0053
35 1.0059

APPARATUS
• Analytical balance
• Burette
• Pipette (20 mL or 25 mL)
• Volumetric flask (25 mL)
• Beaker (50 mL)
• Thermometer
• Pipette filler or suction bulb
• Retort stand
• Burette clamp
• Dropper

CHEMICAL
• Distilled water
PROCEDURE
A. Calibration of Volumetric Flask

1. A 25 mL volumetric is cleaned and dried then weighed accurately using balance analysis.
The mass of the empty volumetric flask is recorded.
2. Distilled water is added to the calibration mark (using a dropper to add the last few drops
of distilled water) and weighed again (using the same balance). Masses of distilled water
and volumetric flasks are recorded.
3. The temperature of the distilled water is recorded.
4. Determine the volume of the actual volumetric flask from Table 1.
B. Calibration of Pipette

1. A 50 mL beaker is cleaned and dried then weighed accurately using balance analysis. The
mass of the empty beaker is recorded.
2. A pipette (20 or 25 mL) is cleaned and rinsed with distilled water.
3. A pipette is filled with distilled water using the procedure discussed in the introduction.
4. Distilled water is poured into the beaker and weighed again. Masses of distilled water and
beakers are recorded.
5. Steps 1-4 are repeated again and the temperature of the distilled water is recorded.
6. Determine the actual volume of the pipette from Table 1.

C. Calibration of Burette
1. A 50 mL beaker is cleaned and dried and weighed accurately using balance analysis.
The mass of the empty beaker is recorded.
2. A burette is cleaned and rinsed using distilled water and the burette is filled with
distilled water to zero marks. (At the end of the burette, make sure there are no bubbles)
3. 5 mL of water is poured from the burette into the beaker and weighed as soon as
possible. Mass recorded.
4. Step 3 is repeated by running water from the burette until the following burette readings
become 10 mL, 15 mL and 20 mL. (Each time 5 ml of distilled water has been added
from the burette). Mass (distilled water + beaker) each time after adding 5 mL of water
is recorded.
5. The temperature of the distilled water is recorded.
6. Determine the actual volume for each addition of 5 mL of distilled water from
Table 1.
RESULTS
Data:

a. Calibration of Volumetric Flask

Mass of empty volumetric flask (g)

Mass of volumetric flask + distilled water (g)

Mass of distilled water (g)

Temperature of distilled water (oC)

Density of water (from Table 1) (g/mL)

(i) (ii)

Mass of empty beaker (g) 35.1129 35.1173

Mass of beaker + distilled water (g) 59.8714 59.9186

Mass of distilled water (g) 24.7585 24.8013

Temperature of distilled water (oC) 30 30.5

Density of water (from Table 1) (g/mL) 1.0053 1.0054

c. Calibration of Burette

Mass of empty beaker (g): 35.2958

Temperature of distilled water (oC): 30

Density of water (from Table 1) (g/mL): 1.0053

After the addition of distilled water:

Reading of Mass of beaker + Mass of distilled Mass of distilled water for

5 40.0885 4.7927 4.7927

10 45.0393 9.7435 4.9508

15 49.9357 14.6399 4.8964

20 54.7970 19.5012 4.8613

Calculations:

a. Determine the actual volume of the volumetric flask based on calculation.

𝑀𝑎𝑠𝑠 𝑀𝑎𝑠𝑠
𝐷𝑒𝑛𝑠𝑖𝑡𝑦 = , 𝑉𝑜𝑙𝑢𝑚𝑒 =
𝑉𝑜𝑙𝑢𝑚𝑒 𝐷𝑒𝑛𝑠𝑖𝑡𝑦
b. Determine the actual volume of the pipette based on the calculation for experiment (i) and
experiment (ii).
𝑀𝑎𝑠𝑠 𝑀𝑎𝑠𝑠
i. 𝐷𝑒𝑛𝑠𝑖𝑡𝑦 = , 𝑉𝑜𝑙𝑢𝑚𝑒 =
𝑉𝑜𝑙𝑢𝑚𝑒 𝐷𝑒𝑛𝑠𝑖𝑡𝑦

24.7585
= 1.0053

= 24.6280 𝑚𝐿
𝑀𝑎𝑠𝑠 𝑀𝑎𝑠𝑠
ii. 𝐷𝑒𝑛𝑠𝑖𝑡𝑦 = , 𝑉𝑜𝑙𝑢𝑚𝑒 =
𝑉𝑜𝑙𝑢𝑚𝑒 𝐷𝑒𝑛𝑠𝑖𝑡𝑦

24.8013
= 1.0054

= 24.6681 𝑚𝐿

c. Determine the actual volume of distilled water (in mL) for each 5 mL burette reading
based on calculation.

Reading of burette (mL) Volume of water (mL)

0-5 4.7674

5-10 4.8461

10-15 4.8543

15-20 4.8496

DISCUSSION
The results that was obtained in this experiment were different from what the theory said. The
volume for the pipette had slight run which the calculated volume for the first attempt was
24.6280 mL and the second attempt was 24.6681 mL when the theoretical volume was 25mL.
The volume for the burette also does not accurate which the calculated volume that have been
removed was less than 5mL when the burette volume removed was 5mL. This may be caused
by parallax error which the position of the eyes was not perpendicular to the scale while the
reading was taken. Not only that, the result may be affected because of the volume of distilled
water which may be under or over the meniscus level.
CONCLUSION

At the end of the experiment the basic laboratory apparatus in measuring mass, volume,
temperature and density had been learned. The accuracy and precision of the results and proper
way in reporting in significant figures is important in using this measurement. In doing
laboratory experiment, a careful and keen observation plus proper and right laboratory
techniques and operations are required to obtain correct results.

QUESTIONS

1. How do you overcome or reduce the problem of random error and systematic error while
doing an experiment?
To overcome or reduce the problem of random error and systematic error while doing an
experiment is by repeating the experiment and averaging over the result.
2. In what situation do you use a volumetric flask, conical flask, pipette, and graduated
cylinder? Explain your answer from the accuracy aspects of these apparatus.
Volumetric flasks are used for precise dilutions and preparation of standard solutions Conical
flask used for titration and suitable for boiling liquids. Pipette are commonly used to transport
measured volume of liquid. The graduated cylinder is used for measuring volumes of liquids.
Therefore, they are not for quantitative analysis but for general purposes.

3. Explain how to read a burette. What are the factors to be considered while using the burette?
The factors to be considered while using burettes is our eyes must be perpendicular ditto the
burette column.
REFERENCES

• 3-Lab Manual CHM138_content

Lecturer’s signature,

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