Procedure.—­Weigh a 50 cc., flat-bottomed flask (preferably a light-weight flask), which must be dry on the outside, to the nearest centigram.  Record the weight in the notebook. (See Appendix for suggestions as to records.) Place the flask under the burette and draw out into it about 10 cc. of water, removing any drop on the tip by touching it against the inside of the neck of the flask.  Do not attempt to stop exactly at the 10 cc. mark, but do not vary more than 0.1 cc. from it.  Note the time, and at the expiration of three minutes (or longer) read the burette accurately, and record the reading in the notebook (Note 1).  Meanwhile weigh the flask and water to centigrams and record its weight (Note 2).  Draw off the liquid from 10 cc. to about 20 cc. into the same flask without emptying it; weigh, and at the expiration of three minutes take the reading, and so on throughout the length of the burette.  When it is completed, refill the burette and check the first calibration.

The differences in readings represent the apparent volumes, the differences in weights the true volumes.  For example, if an apparent volume of 10.05 cc. is found to weigh 10.03 grams, it may be assumed with sufficient accuracy that the error in that 10 cc. amounts to -0.02 cc., or -0.002 for each cubic centimeter (Note 3).

In the calculation of corrections the temperature of the water must be taken into account, if this varies more than 4 deg.C. from the laboratory standard temperature, consulting the table of densities of water in the Appendix.

From the final data, plot the corrections to be applied so that they may be easily read for each cubic centimeter throughout the burette.  The total correction at each 10 cc. may also be written on the burette with a diamond, or etching ink, for permanence of record.

[Note 1:  A small quantity of liquid at first adheres to the side of even a clean burette.  This slowly unites with the main body of liquid, but requires an appreciable time.  Three minutes is a sufficient interval, but not too long, and should be adopted in every instance throughout the whole volumetric practice before final readings are recorded.]

[Note 2:  A comparatively rough balance, capable of weighing to centigrams, is sufficiently accurate for use in calibrations, for a moment’s reflection will show that it would be useless to weigh the water with an accuracy greater than that of the readings taken on the burette.  The latter cannot exceed 0.01 cc. in accuracy, which corresponds to 0.01 gram.

The student should clearly understand that !all other weighings!, except those for calibration, should be made accurately to 0.0001 gram, unless special directions are given to the contrary.

Corrections for temperature variations of less than 4 deg.C. are negligible, as they amount to less than 0.01 gram for each 10 grams of water withdrawn.]