Acommon error results if a student handles the cooled crucible with their fingers before the final weighing. how would this affect the outcome of the experiment?

Explanation:

The crucible is generally used in gravimetric analysis in which the unknown concentration is calculated by using mass.

The crucible is an important laboratory glassware which can bear high temperature in order to remove any impurities.

Crucible must be carried by a pair of tongs. If touched by hands, it will have impurities on its wall which will reflect in the readings.

Crucible is find difference between unfired sample ad fired sample. Any difference in the mass must be due to sample only, otherwise, results will be inaccurate.

When cold crucible is touched, it might pick up the moisture from the fingers if handled by the hand which making percent water to be reported high.

yes the answer is total mass in unchanged   : )