An Inquiry-Based Density Laboratory for Teaching Experimental Error

作者：Prilliman Stephen G^*

来源：Journal of Chemical Education, 2012, 89(10): 1305-1307.

DOI：10.1021/ed2006339

• High School/Introductory Chemistry
• First-Year Undergraduate/General
• Laboratory Instruction
• Hands-On Learning/Manipulatives
• Inquiry-Based/Discovery Learning
• Calibration
• Laboratory Equipment/Apparatus
• Quantitative Analysis
• Student-Centered Learning

An inquiry-based laboratory exercise is described in which introductory chemistry students measure the density of water five times using either a beaker, a graduated cylinder, or a volumetric pipet. Students are also assigned to use one of two analytical balances, one of which is purposefully miscalibrated by 5%. Each group collects data using only their assigned glassware and balance. After the experiment, the complete classes%26apos; data is compiled. The variability in the precision of the glassware and the different calibrations of the balances leads to observations of both random and systematic error in the class data. These data provide a starting point for teaching the types of error commonly encountered in introductory chemistry labs.

• 出版日期2012-10