Question

THIS IS TIMED!! PLEASE HELP A student has about 250 mL of the liquid acetone. She wants to get a precise and accurate measure of the actual volume of the liquid without losing any. Which of these would be the best instrument to use. 500 mL graduated cylinder (±1mL) 100 mL graduated cylinder (±0.5mL) 250 mL beaker (±5mL) 500 mL beaker (±7mL)

Answer 1

To precisely and accurately measure 250 mL of acetone, a 500 mL graduated cylinder with ±1mL accuracy is the best instrument as it is closest to the volume of liquid being measured, allowing readings to the nearest 0.1 mL for both accuracy and precision.

Step-by-step explanation:

To get a precise and accurate measure of the actual volume of 250 mL of acetone without losing any, the best instrument to use would be the 500 mL graduated cylinder (±1mL). Graduated cylinders are specifically designed for measuring volumes, or capacities, of liquids and provide the precision needed for such measurements. The 500 mL graduated cylinder, with a ±1mL uncertainty, is more appropriate than the other options given its larger volume capacity, which is closest to the volume of liquid being measured and still maintains a high level of precision.

When using the graduated cylinder, one must carefully read the volume at the bottom of the meniscus, the curved surface of the liquid, to ensure an accurate measurement. The cylinder's clear scale with 1-mL divisions allows for estimations to the nearest 0.1 mL, which is ideal for measuring this quantity of acetone. Accuracy and precision in measurement are vital in chemical experimentation, and choosing the right tool for measurement can greatly influence the quality of data obtained.

Answer 2

500 mL graduated cylinder (±1mL)

Step-by-step explanation:

Several laboratory glasswares are used in the laboratory, which serves different functions. They include: beakers, volumetric flask, Erlenmeyer flask etc. Beakers are flat-based glasswares used majorly for storing and mixing chemical solutions. Some beakers are also used to measure liquids.

However, graduated cylinders are tall flasks that has graduated markings on it, hence, it is majorly used for measuring liquids. According to this question, a student wants to get a precise and accurate measure of the actual volume of acetone liquid, which is about 250mL.

To do this, the best instrument she can use is a 500 mL graduated cylinder (±1mL). This is because the graduated cylinder holds enough space to contain the liquid and measure it with a level of accuracy better than beakers.