Which method, gravimetric analysis or volumetric analysis is more reliable and why?
The previous responder brings up excellent points, particularly about the method relying on how good the analyst is. This is highly true! However I would add, that gravimetric methods are typically more ACCURATE for the following reasons: 1. Errors associated with volume measurement (loss in transfer, parallax, spillage, over-titration, etc.) are reduced in gravimetric measurements. In most gravimetric measurements, you WEIGH a final product, which either IS the compound of interest, or is stoichiometrically related to it. 2. Gravimetric methods are less sensitive to temperature than volumetric methods. 3. While BOTH types of methods are subject to sample loss, gravimetic methods are less so. (Note: This is less true if the analyst is a clutz. Goes very well with the previous poster’s comment!) 4. A mass is easier to reproducibly determine than a concentration. (Any day of the week!) 5. A mass is easier to STANDARDIZE than a concentration. Again there are errors associated with both, w
