Lesson 3.

Accuracy and Precision

General Chemistry 1
Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics
Learning Competency
At the end of the lesson, you should be able to do the following:

Differentiate between accuracy and precision

(STEM_GC11MT-Ib-13).

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 Learning Objectives
At the end of the lesson, you should be able to do the following:

● Differentiate between accuracy and precision.

● Analyze the accuracy and precision in a given set of

measurements.

● Justify the importance of accuracy and precision in

chemistry.
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In science, measurement is an integral part in quantifying
matter.

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A measurement is
obtained by
comparing a quantity
with a standard unit.
For weight, the
standard unit is
kilograms (kg).
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For length, the
standard unit is
centimeters (cm) or
inches (in).
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But when do you say that a
measurement is accurate or
precise?

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 Accuracy and Precision

● The choice of the correct instrument for measurement:

the concept of accuracy and precision
● “accurate” and “precise”
○ used to describe measurements
○ often interchanged but have different meanings

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What is the difference
between accuracy and
precision?

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 Accuracy and Precision

Accuracy
● the closeness of a measurement to the true or
accepted value.

Precision
● the degree of agreement between successive
measurements using a given instrument (how close
measurements are to each other).
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 Accuracy and Precision

● darts: a good visualization of

accuracy and precision
○ bull’s eye or center of the
dartboard - the true value
○ the closer the dart pins are
to the bull’s eye, the more
accurate they are The dart pins that are close to the
target show high accuracy.
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 Accuracy and Precision

The image on the left shows high precision since the dart pins are close to one
another, while the image on the right shows low precision since the dart pins are far
away from one another. 12
 Accuracy and Precision

● Precision is not dependent on

accuracy.
● A set of measurement can be
very precise but not accurate.
○ dart pins land close to one
another but are far from
the bull’s eye Visual representation of low
accuracy and low precision
measurements. 13
How do you analyze the
accuracy and precision in
measurements?

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 Analyzing the Accuracy and Precision

● Analyzing the accuracy and precision of

measurements - to determine the validity of the data
obtained in an experiment.
● Best quality of data if they exhibit high accuracy and
high precision

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 Let’s Practice!

The mass of a 75.0 gram standard sample of a

substance is measured using an analytical balance.
The measurements are listed below. Are the
measurements accurate? Are they precise?
Trial Mass of sample (g)
1 74.8
2 74.7
3 74.9
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 Let’s Practice!

The mass of a 75.0 gram standard sample of a substance

is measured using an analytical balance. The
measurements are listed below. Are the measurements
accurate? Are they precise?

The measurements are precise since the values are

close to each other. They are also accurate since they
are close to the true value, which is 75.0 grams.
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 Let’s Practice!

Describe the precision and accuracy of the temperature

readings for five days as shown below.

Day Forecasted Temperature (oC) Actual Temperature (oC)

1 27.8

2 28.4

3 29.6 31.5

4 30.0

5 29.9
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 Let’s Practice!

Describe the precision and accuracy of the temperature

readings for five days as shown below.

The forecasted temperature readings show high

precision since their values are close to one another.
However, it may be inferred that the temperature
readings are not that accurate since they fall far from
the forecasted values.
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 Analyzing the Accuracy and Precision

● Range
○ the difference between the highest and lowest
values of measurement
○ to determine the precision of multiple sets of data

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 Let’s Practice!

Which group had a more precise set of measurements of the

mass of a 150 gram metal ball?

Mass (g)
Group
Trial 1 Trial 2 Trial 3 Trial 4 Trial 5

1 142.7 145.8 149.5 143.4 148.9

2 149.7 148.5 148.1 149.5 150.2

3 135.9 140.8 151.2 145.7 146.3

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 Let’s Practice!

Which group had a more precise set of measurements of the mass

of a 150 gram metal ball?

The range of values for each group are as follows:

Group 1 range = 149.5 – 142.7 = 6.8
Group 2 range = 150.2 – 148.1 = 1.6
Group 3 range = 151.2 – 135.9 = 15.3

Group 2 obtained the most precise measurements

(lowest range).
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What is the importance of
accuracy and precision in
chemistry?

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 Accuracy and Precision in Chemistry

● Having accurate and precise

measurements is important
in presenting data and
solution preparation.

A chemist uses different measuring

tools to quantify substances that are
used in making chemical products. 24
 Accuracy and Precision in Chemistry

● Having accurate
measurements of each
substance that make up a
chemical productive is
important to ensure its
quality.
In chemical preparation, it is necessary
to have accurate measurements of
substances. 25
 Check Your Understanding

Tell whether the given statement describe accuracy or

precision.

1. It refers to how close a measurement is to the true

value.
2. This pertains to how close measurements are to each
other.

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Lesson 3.2

Errors in Measurements

General Chemistry 1
Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics
What are the different types
of errors in measurements?

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 Measurement Errors

Error
● disparity between the measured value and the “true
value” of the object being measured.
● has different types depending on how it is acquired
○ systematic error
○ gross error
○ random error

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 Measurement Errors

Systematic Errors
● associated with instruments used to obtain
measurements
● consistent in terms of magnitude and direction
● may be further classified: observational,
environmental, and instrumental

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 Systematic Errors

Observational Errors
● due to the following:
○ an incorrect setting of the
instrument being used;
○ carelessness; and
○ bias of the operator when
A parallax error happens when
making observations the reading of measurement is
obtained at a different angle.
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 Systematic Errors

Environmental Errors
● due to the external factors that
may affect the condition of the
measuring instruments
○ temperature
○ moisture Rust is an environmental factor
that may affect the performance
○ dirt of an instrument, which may lead
○ vibrations to inaccurate measurements.
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 Systematic Errors

Instrumental Errors
● due to the inherent limitation of
an instrument
● improper calibration of the
instrument

A weighing scale may result in

errors in measurement due to its
inherent limitations.
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 Measurement Errors

Random Errors
● due to random and unpredictable fluctuations in
experimental conditions
● occur irregularly
● affects precision
○ results obtained may be too high or low
○ inconsistent in both magnitude and direction

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 Measurement Errors

Gross Errors
● due to mistakes in the analysis of the instrument used
as well as in recording the measurement outcomes
● human error
● errors so serious that the experiment has to be
repeated

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 Ways to Reduce Measurement Errors

● care and self-discipline in performing experiments

● regular maintenance of instruments
● calibration of instruments
● use of standard reference materials to check
performance of a method

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Why is it important to reduce
measurement errors?

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How are errors in
measurements calculated?

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 Key Formula

Concept Formula Description

Use this
Absolute
formula to
error
determine the
difference
between the
actual and
obtained
measurements

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 Key Formula

Concept Formula Description

Relative Use this formula to

error determine the ratio
of the absolute
value to the
measured value.

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 Key Formula

Concept Formula Description

Percentage Use this formula

error to compute the
extent to which a
measurement
deviates from
the actual value.

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Lesson 3.3

Significant Figures in
Calculations

General Chemistry 1
Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics
When taking a measurement, it is essential to inform the
reader about the level of accuracy and precision used.

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Even if you are using
a calculator to
compute for the
answer, the number
of digits written
down is important.
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Significant figures are
used in expressing
measurements or in
doing mathematical
computations.
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What are significant figures?

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 Significant Figures

Significant Figures
● the essential digits that contribute meaning to a certain
number
● show how precise measurements are
● includes all digits measured correctly plus one
estimated digit

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 Significant Figures

Estimate
● an approximation of a
number based on
reasonable assumptions
● may be based on indirect
measurement, The value of pi (𝝅) shown in the calculator has

calculations, and models eight significant digits, wherein the last digit
is assumed to be an estimated value.
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What are the rules in
determining significant
figures?

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 Rules in Determining Significant Figures

1. All nonzero numbers are significant.

Examples:
● 1234 has four significant figures.
● 45932 has five significant figures.

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 Rules in Determining Significant Figures

2. Any zero that is between nonzero numbers is

significant.

Examples:
● 100001 has six significant figures.
● 2009 has four significant figures.

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 Rules in Determining Significant Figures

3. Leading zeros or any zeros that are to the left of

the first nonzero number are not significant.

Examples:
● 0.0001 has only one significant figure.
● 0.0000231 has three significant figures.

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 Rules in Determining Significant Figures

4. Trailing zeros or any zeros to the right of a decimal

point are significant.

Examples:
● 0.000123900 has six significant figures.
● 194.00 has five significant figures.

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 Rules in Determining Significant Figures

5. Trailing zeros to the right of a nonzero number, but

not to the right of a decimal point, are not
significant unless specified by a certain math
symbol like overline (一) or underline (_).

Examples:
● 120000000 has two significant figures.
● 120000000 has six significant figures.
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 Rules in Rounding Off Numbers

1. Determine what the last reported digit should be,

according to the significant figure rules presented
above.

1. Consider the digit to the right of the last reported

digit.

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 Rules in Rounding Off Numbers

3. If the digit to the right of the last reported digit is

less than 5, then leave the last reported digit
unchanged and discard all digits to the right.

Examples:
● Round off 5.382 to three significant figures → 5.38
● Round off 1.874 to three significant figures → 1.87

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 Rules in Rounding Off Numbers

4. If the digit to the right of the last reported digit is

greater than 5, then increase the last reported digit
by one and discard all digits to the right.

Examples:
● Round off 5.386 to three significant figures → 5.39
● Round off 1.879 to three significant figures → 1.88

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 Rules in Rounding Off Numbers

5. If the digit to the right of the last reported digit is

exactly 5, then add one to the reported digit if the
reported digit is an odd number, and leave it
unchanged if it is even.

Examples:
● Round off 1.875 to three significant figures → 1.88
● Round off 1.865 to three significant figures → 1.86
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 Rules in Rounding Off Numbers

6. If the digit to the right of the last reported digit is

not exactly 5, then add one to the reported digit.

Examples:
● Round off 1.865 to three significant figures → 1.86
● Round off 1.86501 to three significant figures →
1.87

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How are significant figures
used in calculations?

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 Applying Significant Figures in Calculations

Addition/Subtraction
● the answer can only have as many decimal places as
the measurement with the fewest decimal places
● the accuracy of a mathematical operation is restricted
to the least accurate measurement

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 Applying Significant Figures in Calculations

Addition/Subtraction

21.94 cm (2 decimal places)

+ 5.3 cm (1 decimal place) ⟶ least decimal place

27.24 cm ⟶ 27.2 cm

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 Let’s Practice!

Jimin wants to find out the actual mass of the iron

filings on the evaporating dish. He used the
analytical balance to measure the mass of the
evaporating dish with iron filings then measure the
evaporating dish alone. The mass of the evaporating
dish with iron filings is 18.9023 grams while the mass
of the evaporating dish alone is 18.35 grams. What is
the actual mass of the iron filings placed on the
evaporating dish?
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 Let’s Practice!

What is the actual mass of the iron filings placed on the

evaporating dish?

Therefore, the total mass of the iron filings placed on

the evaporating dish is 0.55 g.

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 Applying Significant Figures in Calculations

Multiplication/Division
● the answer should only have the number of significant
figures as the measurement with the fewest
significant figures

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 Applying Significant Figures in Calculations

Multiplication/Division

2.25 m (3 significant figures)

x 3 m (1 significant figure) ⟶ least significant figure
6.75 m ⟶ 7 m

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Why is it important to express
measurements with the correct
number of significant figures?

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 Check Your Understanding

Indicate the number of significant figures in each of

the given measurements.

1. 3,684 kg
2. 5.3 cm
3. 0.045 ft
4. 150000 mg
5. 0.0340 km

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