Final answer:
To measure the volume of liquid accurately in a graduated cylinder, one should read the value at the bottom of the meniscus, and estimate to one-tenth of the smallest division.
Step-by-step explanation:
When measuring the volume of a liquid in a graduated cylinder, the correct method is to read the level of the liquid at the bottom of the meniscus. The meniscus is the curve that is typically present at the surface of the liquid inside the cylinder. As light bends the liquid around the edges of the container, it creates this curve. It's important that the cylinder is level and that your eye is aligned with the level of the liquid to avoid parallax error. The bottom of the meniscus, which is the lowest point of the curve where it appears to touch the scale of the cylinder, is the correct point for volume measurement. When estimating the value between markings, you should estimate to one-tenth of the smallest division on the cylinder as it is the most accurate you can get without overestimating the precision of your measurement. If there's a scale with a smallest division of 1 mL, for example, you should be measuring to the nearest 0.1 mL).