Final answer:
A quality control chemist evaluates the accuracy and precision of machines dispensing cough syrup by measuring actual volumes dispensed against the expected 10 ounces (296 mL) and uses statistical analysis to ensure correct dosage and safety.
Step-by-step explanation:
When a quality control chemist at a pharmaceutical company is tasked with checking the accuracy and precision of machines dispensing cough syrup, they are engaging in an essential aspect of quality assurance in pharmaceutical manufacturing. Accuracy refers to how close the dispensed volumes are to the desired volume of 10 ounces (296 mL), while precision refers to the consistency of the volumes dispensed across multiple attempts.
To evaluate the performance of the dispensing machines, the chemist uses each machine to fill five storage bottles and then measures the actual volume dispensed. These measurements would then be compared to the expected volume, and statistical tools such as standard deviation and variance could be used to quantify precision and accuracy. This type of quality control ensures that each bottle of cough syrup has the correct dosage, which is crucial for both the safety and efficacy of the medication provided to consumers.