Final answer:
The percent error of the student's measurement compared to the accepted boiling point value is 2.28%.
Step-by-step explanation:
To calculate the percent error of the student's measurement, you first need to subtract the accepted value from the experimental value, then divide the absolute value of that difference by the accepted value, and finally multiply the result by 100 to get the percent error. Here's the formula:
Percent Error = \( \left| \frac{{Experimental Value - Accepted Value}}{{Accepted Value}} \right| \times 100\% \)
In this case:
Inserting these values into the formula:
Percent Error = \( \left| \frac{{71.8°C - 70.2°C}}{{70.2°C}} \right| \times 100\% \)
Percent Error = \( \left| \frac{{1.6°C}}{{70.2°C}} \right| \times 100\% \)
Percent Error = 2.28\%
The student's measurement has a 2.28\% error compared to the accepted value.