APPLICATION OF STATISTICAL CONCEPTS IN THE

DETERMINATION OF WEIGHT VARIATION IN SAMPLES

MECAELAH S. PALAGANAS
DEPARTMENT OF CHEMICAL ENGINEERING, COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING
UNIVERSITY OF THE PHILIPPINES, DILIMAN QUEZON CITY, PHILIPPINES
DATE PERFORMED: AUGUST 14, 2015
INSTRUCTORS NAME: INA DELA FUENTE

express the level of confidence

we have that a measurement
has statistical significance and
not just a result of an error.

1. What is the significance of

standard deviation?

The standard deviation is a

powerful statistic that measures
variation about the mean. It is
the most widely used measure
of dispersion. The higher the
standard deviation, the greater
the dispersion of data. It has
significance in experiments and
surveys. A very large standard
deviation may imply that the
experiment
is
flawed.
In
surveys,
a
high
standard
deviation may imply that the
chosen sample size or the
method itself is not that
appropriate.
Simply
put,
standard deviation provides a
way to check results.

2. What is the significance of

confidence limits?

Confidence limit expresses a

level of certainty that the true
value lies within of the
average, in the absence of
systematic error. This is very
important so that we can

3. What is the significance of Qtest?

Q-test is designed to evaluate

whether a questionable data
point should be retained or
rejected. It is significant as it
eliminates the possible outliers
in a certain data set, which is
usually the highest and the
lowest values.

4. How does the statistical

parameters calculated from data
set 1 compare to those obtained
from data set 2?

The
statistical
parameters
calculated from data set 1 is
very near to those obtained
from data set 2.

5. What is the significance of

pooled standard deviation?

When several small data sets

have the same sources of
1

systematic
error,
or
is
performed
under
similar
conditions,
the
standard
deviations of the individual data
sets may be pooled to more
accurately
determine
its
standard deviation. Thus, it
gives a better estimate than the
individual calculated standard
deviations.
6. What are the three types of
experimental
error?
Give
examples of each type.

The three types of errors are

systematic, random, and gross
error. Systematic errors affect
the accuracy of results, and
commonly arise from flaws in
the equipment of in the design
of
the
experiment.
Unlike
random errors, it is consistent
and reproducible, meaning, it
affects all the data points of a
data set in the same manner.
Example
includes
using
uncalibrated mass balance, and
maybe
the
experimental
method itself. Random errors
are those that affect the
precision of the experiment and
are caused by unknown and
unpredictable changes in the
experiment.
These
changes
may occur in the measuring
instruments
or
in
the
environmental conditions. Room
temperature varies and this
becomes a common source of
random
error
in
certain
experiments. Gross errors are
just the mistakes due to
carelessness
of
the

experimenter.
Wrong
calculations and wrong amount
of
reagent
in
solutions
preparation are some examples
of it.
7. What is the Gaussian/normal
distribution?
What
are
the
requirements for the data set to
have a normal distribution?

A Gaussian curve or normal

distribution curve shows the
symmetrical distribution of data
around the mean of an infinite
set of data. For a data set to
have normal distribution, most
of the values must be centered
about the mean; and the mean,
mode and median are all the
same. The frequency curve that
will be constructed must be
bell-shaped
also,
and
the
probability a score is above the
mean is 50% and the probability
a score is below the mean is
50%.

8. What is the rationale behind

the use of forceps/crucible tongs
in handling the coins?

Using tongs in handling the

coins simply avoids the oil,
moisture,
perspiration,
and
other dirt that are present in our
fingers. These are avoided
because these may transfer to
the coin which can add to the
weight of each coin.

[Note: Number 9 was not included

since this is not a formal report. See
Appendix 9 in lab manual.]

REFERENCES
[1] B. D. Lamp, D. L. McCurdy, V. M.
Pultz and J. M. McCormick, Introduction
to Statistics in Chemistry Retrieved
from
http://chemlab.truman.edu/DataAnalys
is/Statistics_Files/StatisticsFundamenta
ls.asp accessed 14 August 2015.
[2] Skoog, et.al., Fundamentals of

Analytical Chemistry, 7th ed., 1996,

pp.
12-20.
[3] Uncertainties in Measurements.
Retrieved
from
http://chemwiki.ucdavis.edu/Analytical
_Chemistry/Quantifying_Nature/Signific
ant_Digits/Uncertainties_in_Measurem
ents#Systematic_vs._Random_Error
accessed
14
August
2015.