ANALYTICAL
CONCEPTS OF
ERRORS, ACCURACY
AND PRECISION
Group : 2
Eman Fatima
Fajar Eman
Khadija
Lubaina
Outline :
Errors, control of errors and their
sources.
Acccuracy
Precision
Errors:
➢ Analytical chemistry is based on reliability, reproducibility and accuracy. However, every
measurement has some degree of uncertainty which is called as error in analytical chemistry.
➢ "In analytical chemistry, the difference between true/standard value and observed value is
called error."
➢ It is impossible to perform a chemical analysis that is totally free of errors or uncertainties.
➢ We can only hope to minimize errors and estimate their size with acceptable accuracy
FORMULA:
Error=(true/standard value) - (observed value)
%age Error = (true/standard value) - (observed value) × 100%
(true/standard value)
➢ Errors are classified into two types:
i. Determinate / Systematic error
ii. Indeterminate / Random error
Determinate Error Indeterminate Error
I. Determinate errors are those whose source I. Indeterminate errors are random errors over
can be detected/determined. which analyst has no control.
II. They can be avoided and corrected. II. These are often called accidental errors
which represent experimental uncertainty
III. These can be: that occurs in any measurement.
III. Errors cannot be neglected, analyst has no
control over these errors.
❖ Personal errors:
EXAMPLE:
Result from carelessnes or personal
limitations of the analyst. a) Vibration in balance while handling it.
❖ Instrumental error: b) Accidental loss of material during analysis.
Non-ideal instrument behaviour,by faulty
caliberations,or by use under inappropriate
conditions.
❖ Method selection:
The non ideal chemical or physical
behaviour of reagents and reactions on which an
analysis is based often introduce systematic
method error.
❖ Improper sampling
❖ Error by the analyst
❖ Error by the equipment
SOURCE OF ❖
❖
Calibration error
Reporting error
❖
ERRORS: ❖
❖
Calculation error
Error in method selection
Error during transport and storage
❖ Error due to laboratory environment
❖ Error during sample preparation
Control of Errors:
■ Calibration of apparatus/instruments:
Periodic calibration of apparatus, glassware is required.
■ Running a blank determination:
Analyst can determine impurities present in the reagent and solvents; and ultimately errors
can be reduced.It is used for detection and compensation of systemetic analysis mistakes.By omitting a
sample.
■ Control determination:
Standard substance is used in experiment in identical experiment conditions to minimize
the errors.
•Parallel determination:
Instead of single determination , duplicate or triplicate determination is carried out to
minimize the possibilities of accidental errors.
•Amplification method:
It is used when a very small amount of material is to be measured which is beyond the
limit of apparatus.
•Independent method of analysis:
It is carried out to maintain the accuracy of the results .e.g. strength of HCl may be determined by
two methods:
1.Titrating it with a standard solution of strong base.
2.Precipitation with AgNO3 and weighing as AgCl.
Accuracy
➢ Accuracy is how close the measurement is to the standard/true value for that measurement.
➢ It is the degree of agreement between true/standard value and measured/observed value.
➢ Accuracy is often more difficult to determine because the true value is usually unknown. An accepted
value must be used instead
➢ Accuracy is expressed in terms of either absolute or relative error.
Absolute Error:
The absolute error of a measurement is the difference between the measured value and true value.
E = Xi -Xt
Relative Error:
The relative error of a measurement is the absolute error divided by the true value.
E = Xi –Xt × 100%
Xt
EXAMPLE:
The dissociation constant for acetic acid is 1.75×10-5 at 25°C. In an experiment if a student arrives
at exactly this value, his value is said to be accurate.
Precision:
➢ Precision is defined as degree of agreement between replicate measurements of same quantity or how
close the agreement is between repeated measurements (which are repeated under the same condition).
" Replicates are samples of about the same size that are carried through an analysis in exactly the
same way."
➢ Precision is readily determined by simply repeating the measurement on replicate samples.
➢ Precision of a set of replicate data may be expressed as standard deviation, variance and coefficient of
variation.
➢ Good precision does not assure good accuracy.
■ Mean :
X= X1+X2+X3+X4
4
■ Deviation :
=( Single value) - (average value)
= X1 – X
■ Standard deviation :
SD = Σ ( x – x)2
n–1
■ Relative standard deviation :
Sr = SD
X
■ Variance :
= (SD)2
EXAMPLE:
THANK YOU
