Question

a chemistry student measured the boiling point of naphthalene (C10H8) at 231.0 degrees celsius. what is the percent error for this measurement if the literature value is 217.9 degrees celcius

Answer 1

A chemistry student measured the boiling point of naphthalene (C₁₀H₈) at 231.0 degrees celsius. What is the percent error for this measurement if the literature value is 217.9 degrees celsius.

Solution:

The percent error is

$$\delta = \frac {\left| v - v _ {\text {approx}} \right|}{\left| v \right|} \times 100 = \left| \frac {v - v _ {\text {approx}}}{v} \right| \times 100$$

where δ is percent error, %; $v$ is absolute value of the measured magnitude, the dimensionality depend on measured magnitude; $v_{\text{approx}}$ is approximate value of the measured magnitude, the dimensionality depend on measured magnitude.

Then $v$ is 217.9 degrees celsius (it is absolute or literature value) and $v_{\text{approx}}$ is 231.0 degrees celsius (it is approximate or measured value).

$$\delta = \left| \frac {217.9 - 231.0}{217.9} \right| \times 100 = 6.0 \%$$