Question

How many decimals should you report to on a 50 mL burette?

a) One; Sufficient precision for titrations.
b) Two; Common practice for graduated instruments.
c) Three; Enhanced accuracy for precise measurements.
d) No decimals; Whole numbers are sufficient.

Answer 1

Option (b), For a 50 mL burette that permits measurements to the nearest 0.01 mL, volumes should be reported to two decimal places to match the instrument's precision for titration analysis.

Step-by-step explanation:

The question of how many decimals should be reported on a 50 mL burette depends on the precision of the burette itself. A typical burette allows volume measurements to the nearest 0.01 mL, which means it has two decimal places of precision.

Therefore, when using a burette for titration analysis, it is best practice to report volumes to two decimal places to reflect the instrument's capability. This provides sufficient accuracy for most titrations without implying a false sense of precision.