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Consider the set of data, below, of the mass and volume of an unknown metal measured with various measuring devices. This data can be used to calculate the density of the metal. Trial # Mass (measured on a balance) Volume (measured in a graduated cylinder) 24.356 g 22.0 mL 23.2 g 21.090 mL 229 20 mL 24.123 g 22.10 ml Which trial would give the most precise value for density? Which trial would give the least precise value? Please show your density calculations for both trials, describing what you can infer about the increments of measure found on the balance and the graduated cylinder used in each of these two trials.

Answer 1

Density is = mass/volume.

The average mass is = (24.356+23.2+22+24.123)/4 g = 23.491 g.

The average volume is = (22.0+21.090+20+22.10) mL = 21.2975 mL.

Thus, the average density = 23.491/21.2975 g/mL = 1.103 g/mL.

Trials	Mass (g)	Volume (mL)	Density (g/mL)
1	24.356	22.0	1.107
2	23.2	21.090	1.10
3	22	20	1.1
4	24.123	22.10	1.091

Now the most precise value is 1.10 i.e. trial 2 and 3 and the least precise value is trial 1.