what does it mean if I got a % relative error that is higher than 100%?
- would it mean that I did the experiment erroneously?
If your relative error is over 100 percent, something major is wrong. Recheck your calculations.
Based on the experimental data, I was able to calculate the experimental pKa value which is 5.04 and the literature value of the pKa for KHP is 5.51. If I would be computing for the relative error between the two pKa's it would be 8.52994555%. But then, what i need is the relative error between the experimental and theoretical Ka. So, I calculated for the Ka of both and got the following: experimental Ka is 9.12010839E-6 and the theoretical Ka is 3.0902953E-6. And based on this I calculated for the relative error of the two Ka's and I got a relative error of 195.120923%
Error is normally associated with expermiental results, and you did not indicate those. You then took your experimental results and did calculations on them on a log scale, and called this experimental results and error. You are stretching the definition of experimental relative and absolute error. However, in the context of what you measured and then calculated, you are correct. Relative error is about 200 percent in your calculated experimental Ka. I suspect your results were OK.
If you have obtained a percent relative error that is higher than 100%, it means that the measured value differs significantly from the expected value. The percent relative error is a measure of how much the measured value deviates from the expected value, expressed as a percentage.
A percent relative error exceeding 100% typically indicates a significant discrepancy between the measured and expected values. This discrepancy could be a result of various factors, including experimental error, systematic errors, inaccurate measurements, or incorrect calculations.
However, it does not necessarily mean that you performed the experiment erroneously. There could be several reasons behind a high percent relative error, such as limitations in experimental equipment, human error in measurements or calculations, or inherent uncertainties in the system being studied.
To understand the cause of a high percent relative error, it is important to carefully examine the experimental procedure, check for possible sources of error, verify the accuracy of measurements, and critically analyze the results. By identifying and addressing the potential sources of error, you may be able to improve the accuracy of your experimental measurements and reduce the relative error in future experiments.