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Development of Practical Skills in Chemistry

Anomalous results, precision, accuracy and types of error

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Overview

Recall questions on spotting an anomalous titre, precision against accuracy, and random against systematic error.

What you need to know

Answer each one before you reveal it.

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Evaluation

What is the difference between precision and accuracy, which error does averaging reduce, and what is the uncertainty in a titre from a burette read to ±0.05 cm³?

Questions from this subtopic

Each one with the model answer underneath.

  1. 1

    What is an anomalous result?

    Model answer

    It is a measurement that lies well outside the pattern of the other results and cannot be explained by the normal spread of the data.

  2. 2

    How is an anomalous titre recognised?

    Model answer

    It differs from the other titres by much more than 0.10 cm³, so it does not agree with the concordant set.

  3. 3

    What should be done with an anomalous measurement?

    Model answer

    It should be recorded but excluded from the mean, the reason for excluding it stated, and the run repeated if time allows.

  4. 4

    What is the difference between precision and accuracy?

    Model answer

    Precision describes how closely repeated measurements agree with one another, while accuracy describes how close a measurement is to the true value.

  5. 5

    How does a random error differ from a systematic error?

    Model answer

    A random error varies unpredictably in size and direction between readings, whereas a systematic error shifts every reading by the same amount in the same direction.

  6. 6

    Which type of error is reduced by repeating a measurement and averaging?

    Model answer

    Only random error is reduced, because positive and negative deviations tend to cancel; a systematic error remains unchanged.

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