If a measuring cylinder is used, how could you obtain more accurate results?

• A. Use a burette, as it is more accurate.
• B. Increase the concentration of solution.
• C. Use a larger cylinder.
• D. Repeat measurements with the same cylinder.

Answer: (A)

Accuracy when measuring liquids improves when you can add very small, controlled amounts. A burette is built for that: it’s a long, narrow tube with fine divisions so you can read tiny changes in volume very precisely, usually to a few hundredths of a milliliter. You can release the liquid slowly, drop by drop, and stop exactly at the endpoint, which minimizes overshooting and rounding errors. A measuring cylinder, by contrast, has coarser markings and a wider shape, making the exact amount read less precise and the flow harder to control; the liquid’s meniscus is easier to misread, especially if the scale isn’t read at eye level. So using a burette gives the most accurate results because you can measure and add amounts with far greater precision. Repeating measurements with the same cylinder can improve precision by averaging, but the inherent limitation of the cylinder’s coarse scale remains, which is why the burette is the better option for accuracy.