Khalifa University of Science, Technology and Research

Laboratory Experiment No. 2

Experiment Title:

Physical properties: Laboratory Measurements

and Observations

Aim: To examine some basic physical properties of matter in preparation for future chemistry
experiments.

Objectives:

On completion of this experiment the student should be able to:

Metric units

Correctly read a meter stick, a balance and graduated cylinder

State the correct numbers of significant figures in a measurement

Be able to distinguish among substances based on their physical properties

CHEM 115 - Lab #2: Physical Properties: Laboratory Measurements and Observations

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BACKGROUND

CHEM 115 - Lab #2: Physical Properties: Laboratory Measurements and Observations

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CHEM 115 - Lab #2: Physical Properties: Laboratory Measurements and Observations

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Khalifa University of Science, Technology and Research

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Khalifa University of Science, Technology and Research

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Khalifa University of Science, Technology and Research

EXPERIMENTAL PROCEDURE
Supplies:

Meterstick (long ruler)

Beaker 100-mL & 250-mL
Disposable pipette
Thermometer
Erlenmeyer flask 100-mL
Graduated cylinder 100-mL & 10-mL
Rubber stopper

Chemicals:

Distilled water, Ice

WASTE DISPOSAL
Discard the ice, distilled water down to the sink.

PROCEDURES

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2.
3.

Fill a 100-mL Erlenmeyer flask with water to the 50 mL mark, then transfer the contents to a
100-mL graduated cylinder. Record the volume.
Fill a 100-mL beaker with water to the 50 mL mark, then transfer the contents to a dry 100-mL
graduated cylinder. Record the volume.

C. Volume of a drop

1.
2.
3.

Using a disposable pipet, add 50 counted of water into a 10-mL graduated cylinder.
Record the volume.
Add another 50 counted drops of water into the same graduated cylinder and record the
volume.
Repeat step 2. There should be total a 150 drops in the graduated cylinder.

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Lab Report for Experiment No.2

Measurement and Significant Figures

Student Name

_________________________ Student ID

: ___________

Student Name

_________________________ Student ID

: ___________

Student Name

: _________________________ Student ID

: ___________

Session/Group :

____________________________

Date

: ___________

DATA & CALCULATION

Measuring Length
1.

What units are represented by the numbers marked on the meterstick/ruler ?_____________
What do the smallest lines on the meterstick/ruler represent? _______________
Complete the following statements:
There are _____________________cm in 1 meter.
There are______________________mm in 1 meter.
There are______________________ mm in 1 cm.

2.
Length of paper

Width of paper

Area of paper (l x w)

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3.
Length of line above:

_____________________________

Other students values:

_____________

____________

Questions
Q1. Considering the values reported for the length and width of the paper, what is the estimated
digit in each measurement?

Q2. How many significant figures should be in the value for the area of the paper? Explain.

Q3. Compare your measurement of the length of the line above to the other two students. What
digits in the measurement are the same as yours and which are different?

Q4. Why could the measured values obtained by other students be different than yours?

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Measuring Mass
Object

Mass

Question
Q5. How many significant figures are there in the mass of each object reported above?

Measuring Temperature
Room temperature

Boiling water

Ice water

Question
Q6. How well do your thermometer readings agree with the accepted values for the freezing
point and the boiling point of water? Express any discrepancies as a deviation in degrees.

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Measuring Volume
A. Use of a graduated cylinder, an Erlenmeyer flask, and a beaker
10-mL cylinder

50-mL cylinder

100-mL cylinder

Volume of liquid

Type of flask

Volume

Erlenmeyer

Beaker

Question
Q7. Which type of glassware, a graduated cylinder, an Erlenmeyer flask, or a beaker, is best for
making precise volume measurements? Explain.

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B. Volume of a solid by displacement

Volume of water

Volume of water and submerged solid

Volume of solid

Question
Q8. Explain why the entire solid must be submerged in order to get an accurate volume. What
would happen to the calculated volume of the solid if some of it was sticking out of the
water?

C. Volume of a drop
Total # of drops added

Total volume

Volume per drop

(Tot. V / Tot. # drops added)
mL/drop

50
mL/drop
100
mL/drop
150

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Average volume per drop

mL/drop
Question
Q9. Considering your value for the average volume per drop, how many drops from a disposable
pipet would be required to deliver 1.0 mL? (Show your work)

Additional Question
Q10. A 5.347 g sample of copper powder was added to a beaker that had a recorded weight of
121.01 g. What is the combined weight of the beaker and copper powder in grams? Convert
this amount to kilogram and milligrams. (Show all work)

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