Yet Another Quick Chemistry Question

HemlockGrey · Post by **HemlockGrey** » 2005-09-25 09:52pm

This is another very simple question, but can someone explain to me what is meant by "chemical process errors?" I've never heard the term and my textbook doesn't have it.

tharkûn · Post by **tharkûn** » 2005-09-26 06:08pm

In what context? I can think of several things it might mean, particularly if you are writing up a highschool lab, but it isn't anything "official" so far as I know.

HemlockGrey · Post by **HemlockGrey** » 2005-09-26 07:48pm

Writing up an AP Chem lab about tin reacting with HNO3 (reviewing some stuff, basically) but it asked about possible "chemical process errors". I just said, maybe the tin wouldn't have completely reacted with the nitric acid, because I didn't quite know what it meant.

lance · Post by **lance** » 2005-09-26 08:43pm

Limiting factors would accont for that I believe.

tharkûn · Post by **tharkûn** » 2005-09-26 09:36pm

My best guess would be ways the experimentor could have dicked up the reaction or ways the real limitations of the reaction (contamination, geometry, timeframe, etc.) could have contributed to error. The first would be applicable if the question included the word "your" or you had only one question about error. The latter is most likely if you have seperately been asked to detail possible sources of human error.