Answer to Question #95426 in Inorganic Chemistry for Egbz

Question

You and your partner take melting points of the sample. You observe a melting point of 101-107oC, while your partner observe a value of 110-112oC. Explain how you get two different values with exactly the same sample.

Answer 1

There can be differences in starting points of your observation, one of you could consider shrinking as a beginning of the process while another waited for the definite drop.

The melting of samples could have been performed very quickly so you or your partner was not able to see the precise melting temperature.

It could be a device error, instruments can be uncalibrated or calibrated differently.