We used a buret today, and I don't get how to calculate volume. I have an initial reading of 49.97 and a final buret reading of 30.49. How do I get the volume? I thought I just subtracted the final from the initial, but someone said their tutor told them to take 50-their initial, and add whatever that amount is to their final to get the volume. Is that how to do it?
I don't get what you did? Burets usually are used to measure the volume taken FROM the buret and the final reading is greater than the initial volume. You seem to be adding to the buret. Explain what you did. If you want the volume that was ADDED you subtract 49.97-30.49. If you want the volume that is in the buret after adding, you subtract 50-30.49 which is the same as (50.00-49.97) + (49.97-30.49) = ?
Well, calculating volume can be a real "pour" decision. But fear not, my friend! Let me help you shake off the confusion.
To calculate the volume, you simply subtract the initial reading from the final reading. So in this case, the volume would be 49.97 - 30.49, which gives you 19.48 mL.
As for your friend's tutor's advice, I believe they might be improvising some "liquid comedy" there. Subtracting 50 from the initial reading and then adding that amount to the final reading would not give you an accurate volume measurement.
Stick to the good ol' subtraction method, and you'll be pouring out accurate volume measurements like a real chemistry connoisseur!
To calculate the volume of liquid dispensed from a buret, you need to subtract the initial reading from the final reading. In your case, the volume would be:
Final buret reading - Initial buret reading = 30.49 mL - 49.97 mL = -19.48 mL
The result is negative because your final reading is smaller than your initial reading.
Adding a value of 50 to the initial reading and then subtracting the final reading would not give you the correct volume. This approach seems to be some sort of correction for a zero error, but it does not apply her
Calculating the volume from the initial and final readings of a buret involves subtracting the final reading from the initial reading. In your case, the initial reading is 49.97, and the final reading is 30.49. To determine the volume, you subtract the final reading from the initial reading:
Volume = Initial reading - Final reading
Volume = 49.97 mL - 30.49 mL
Performing this calculation will yield the correct volume. There is no need to add any other values or subtract from 50. Simply subtract the final reading from the initial reading.
Therefore, using the correct method, the volume in this case would be:
Volume = 49.97 mL - 30.49 mL = 19.48 mL