Question

A student records the mass of a sample of polyvinyl chloride (PVC) as 75.23 grams. Then the student places the PVC sample into a graduated cylinder containing 25.0 mL of water. The student reads the new volume in the graduated cylinder to be 78.0 mL. What is the percent error for the student's density determination? The accepted value for the density of polyvinyl chloride is 1.38 g/cm³.
1) 1.42
2) 2.86
3) 3.00
4) 4.00

Answer 1

Answer:

2) 2.86%

Step-by-step explanation:

volume of PVC = 78.0 mL - 25.0 mL = 53.0 mL

mass = 75.23 g

density = mass/volume

density = 75.23 g / 53.0 mL

density = 1.419433 g/cm³

percent error = (experimental value - real value)/(real value) × 100%

percent error = (1.419433 - 1.38)/1.38 × 100%

percent error = 2.86%