what is the smallest fraction of a milliliter to which you can make a measurement
To determine the smallest fraction of a milliliter that can be measured, we need to consider the increments of the measuring instrument being used.
Most common laboratory instruments, such as graduated cylinders, pipettes, and burettes, come with markings for different volume increments. The smallest fraction of a milliliter that can be measured depends on the smallest graduation or the stated precision of the instrument.
For example, if you are using a graduated cylinder with markings at every 0.1 mL, the smallest fraction that can be measured is 0.1 mL. In contrast, if you are using a micropipette that has a stated precision of 0.001 mL (1 microliter), then the smallest fraction that can be measured is 0.001 mL.
It’s important to calibrate and use the measuring instrument properly to ensure accurate measurements. It is also worth noting that there are specialized instruments, such as microsyringes or microcapillary tubes, that can measure even smaller fractions of a milliliter, down to microliters or nanoliters, depending on the specific application.