Chemistry student measured the boiling point of lyric acid to be 40°C the actual boiling point of lyric acid is 43.2°C what is the percent error for this measurement?

The percent error of Chemistry student : 7.4%

Given

40 °C measurement

Required

The percent error

Solution

% Error : difference between the theoretical value and the actual value

or

% Error : Absolute Error / Accepted Value

Absolute Error = Measured Value - Accepted Value

% Error for Chemistry student  :

1. Subtract the measurement value with the accepted value

= 40 °C - 43.2 °C

= -3.2 °C

2. Divide by the accepted value, and multiply by 100

= |-3.2/43.2| x 100%

= 7.4%