Jan+3rd+Striving+for+accuracy+and+precision+-+Charles+Wang

January 3rd Striving for accuracy and precision

In science, there are two primary steps when executing a lab experiment. The first part is the theoretical aspect, where we use calculations to predict what results a certain situation would produce. The second part is the practical aspect, where we put our theory to the test and actually carry out the situation we want to draw results from. Typically, we want our predictions to be correct; the practical aspect should simply confirm the calculations that we made. Through several different practical, hands-on tests, we can learn more about how our calculations work in the real world. Making practical tests, we can evaluate the accuracy of our calculations and to what extend of precisions they reach.

One in-class activity in which we compared predictions to practical tests, was when we predicted the solubility of ions and whether or not a reaction between two chemicals will create a precipitate. We would be stationed in groups of about 3 students and mix various chemicals in wells to test if there is a precipitate from the reaction. Before actually mixing the chemicals, we work out the equation on a piece of paper and match the positive ions with the negative ions. Once we match them up, we check a solubility chart to determine whether or not there will be a precipitate present in the end. My group and I would individually work out the formulas and compare our answers. If the answers were not all the same, then we would all go over our work again and see where someone went wrong. This process is to help us achieve the utmost precise prediction of whether or not there will be a precipitate. How can we learn when our working is not accurate? We must be sure that we can produce the most accurate results to assure the most effective learning. We wanted to be able to trust ourselves to be able to produce accurate responses in order to demonstrate our learning through hard work. If the results all of us come to doesn't match with the result we see in the mixing well, we would do all our working again to see if we could get accurate results after re-evaluating our work (as it turns out, whenever that happened, it turned out that some of the chemicals weren't concentrated enough to produce the right reaction). It is important to strive for the more accurate results to solidify any learning you wish to achieve, regardless of the class.