Describe and explain how each of the following experimental errors or variations might affect your results.
(a) You forgot to add sulfuric acid
b. You left out the sodium bicarbonate washing step
c. Your thermometer bulb was 1 cm higher than it should have been
during the lab preparation of synthetic banana oil
Do not have the lab protocol .
(a) Forgetting to add sulfuric acid: Sulfuric acid is often used in experiments to create the desired reaction conditions or to act as a catalyst. If you forget to add sulfuric acid, it can significantly impact your results. This is because the absence of sulfuric acid may prevent the desired reaction from occurring or alter the reaction pathway. As a result, the reaction may not proceed as it should, leading to inaccurate or incomplete outcomes.
To address this error and understand its impact, you should conduct the experiment with the proper amount of sulfuric acid. This can be achieved by carefully following the experimental procedure, double-checking the materials required, and keeping a record of the substances you add at each step. By comparing the results of the experiment conducted without sulfuric acid with those obtained when it is included correctly, you can identify the effect of this error on your results.
(b) Leaving out the sodium bicarbonate washing step: The sodium bicarbonate washing step is frequently used in experiments to remove impurities or waste products generated during the reaction. This step helps purify the final product and ensure accurate results. If you skip this step, the impurities or byproducts may remain, contaminating the final product or altering its properties.
To understand the impact of leaving out the sodium bicarbonate washing step, you can conduct two sets of experiments: one following the complete procedure and another omitting the washing step. Analyze and compare the purity, yield, or any other measurable properties of the final products in both cases. Any discrepancies between the results will indicate the effect of skipping the washing step on your experimental outcomes.
(c) Thermometer bulb being 1 cm higher than it should have been: The position of the thermometer bulb affects the accuracy of temperature measurements. If the thermometer bulb is placed higher or lower than the desired position, it can lead to inaccurate temperature readings throughout the experiment. This is because the bulb may be exposed to different thermal conditions, such as variations in temperature gradients or heat sources, than intended.
To account for this error, it is crucial to ensure the thermometer bulb is placed at the correct height specified by the experimental procedure. Checking and adjusting the bulb's position using a reference point, such as a meniscus or a specific liquid level, can help mitigate this error. You may also repeat the experiment with the thermometer bulb correctly positioned and compare the temperature readings with those obtained when the bulb was placed 1 cm higher. The difference between the two sets of results will demonstrate the impact of this variation on your experimental measurements.