UNIVERSITY OF SANTO TOMAS

FACULTY OF PHARMACY
Department of Pharmacy
Pharmaceutical Calculations and Techniques (Laboratory)

EXERCISE 3: VOLUME MEASUREMENT

Catilo, K. G., Cruz, K. A., Danganan, J. R.

ABSTRACT

Introduction: This laboratory exercise seeks to demonstrate a set of procedures involved in various
volumetric instruments. Materials and Methods: An experimental design was carried out to apply the
different processes needed in every apparatus as well as to achieve an accurate and precise volume
measurement. The materials used were the serological pipette, rubber bulb, volumetric flask, burette,
micropipette, beaker, Erlenmeyer flask, dropping pipette, analytical balance, distilled water, potassium
permanganate solution, and sucrose. Results: The volume of distilled water obtained in the serological
pipette was 3 mL. The solute (sucrose) weighed 0.1164 g, 0.1795 g, and 0.1126 g on an analytical
balance before being dissolved in distilled water. Each group member acquired a total volume of 100
mL in the volumetric flask. Meanwhile, an initial volume of 0 mL of potassium permanganate solution
was noted in the burette, and a final reading of 50 mL was recorded when the liquid was poured. In the
micropipette, 185 μL was attained when distilled water was measured by the group. Conclusion: The
results implied that the volumetric flask and micropipette have higher accuracy and precision than the
serological pipette and burette when it comes to volume measurement.

Keywords: Accuracy, burette, micropipette, precision, serological pipette, volume, volumetric flask

INTRODUCTION processes involved in the use of each apparatus.

It also shows the results and analysis of the
In the laboratory, volume measurement plays a exercise, which can help the readers to have
crucial role. There are a number of tools that knowledge on accurate and precise volume.
can be used for measuring liquid substances,
but the degree of accuracy and precision MATERIALS AND METHODS
required for each measurement should be
determined first to know the appropriate Experimental Design
volumetric instrument.[1] Reliable measurement The researchers carried out an experimental
requires both accuracy and precision, as well as design in order to apply a set of procedures
proper handling and calibration, ideally at
with the use of various instruments involved in
20℃. In pharmaceutical manufacturing,
incorrect volume measurement affects the dose volume measurement.
of medication a patient receives. Mistakes in
medication often lead to fatal errors and, worse, Instrument and Materials
cause danger or harm to the patient.[2] The laboratory apparatus utilized in this
exercise were the serological pipette, rubber
As a result, the main objective of this bulb, volumetric flask, burette, micropipette,
laboratory exercise is to discuss the different
beaker, Erlenmeyer flask, dropping pipette, and
instruments for volume measurement and the
analytical balance. The liquids used in getting was used to rinse out the detergent. After that,
the volume were distilled water and potassium the burette was washed three times with
permanganate solution. When measuring in the distilled water. The stopcock was closed again
volumetric flask, the solute present was before adding 5 mL of potassium permanganate
sucrose. solution, which will be dispensed from the
burette. The instrument was rolled and tipped
Methodology again to ensure that the liquid has contact with
Measurement using a serological pipette all the inner surfaces. More solution was added
The tip of the serological pipette is immersed in to the burette directly from the reagent bottle
a beaker filled with distilled water, which was beyond the 0.0 mL mark. The group drained a
sucked up past the calibration mark using a tiny amount of liquid to check if there were no
rubber bulb. The index finger was used to air bubbles trapped beneath the stopcock. The
quickly replace the rubber bulb at the tip of the solution was drained up until the meniscus was
pipette. The excess liquid was drained by exactly at 0.0 mL at eye level. The initial
slowly releasing the finger until the bottom of reading was recorded before pouring the
the meniscus touches the mark of the desired required amount of liquid into the Erlenmeyer
measurement. The pipette was transferred to the flask. The group took note of the final reading
receiving vessel and the required volume was before cleaning the burette.
released into the container. The instrument was
immediately cleaned with distilled water to Measurement using a micropipette
avoid dried residue building up in the pipette. A fresh tip was securely placed on the barrel
while being careful to keep it away from direct
Measurement using a volumetric flask contact. The desired volume (185 μL) was set
In an analytical balance, the solute, sucrose, using the knob on the micropipette's top. The
was weighed between 0.1 and 0.2 g, dissolved plunger was pressed to the first stop to get the
in a beaker filled with distilled water equivalent intended volume. To suck up the liquid, it was
to approximately 1/4 of the desired volume, and slowly released while holding the micropipette
transferred to the volumetric flask. The beaker upright and dipping it 3 to 5 mm into the
used was thoroughly rinsed with distilled water, solution. To remove liquid outside of the tip,
and the liquid was poured into the flask. A the micropipette tip was slid along the wall of
dropper was used to add the final drops of the container. It was then leaned against the
distilled water up until the calibration mark receiving wall. To release the liquid, the
(100 mL). To achieve a complete mix, the grip plunger was pressed until the first stop. It was
was tightened on the cap, and the volumetric pressed again until the second stop to squirt out
flask was inverted several times. the remaining bits of liquid. The tip was
discarded after use.
Measurement using a burette
The stopcock was placed in a closed position RESULTS
before adding a few milliliters of detergent.
Table 1 shows the results of the readings of
Then, the burette was tipped and rolled to allow
each instrument used in the provided exercise.
the detergent to soak all of the inside surfaces. In the serological pipette and burette, the
The stopcock was opened to drain the readings are based on the lower meniscus of the
detergent. Step 1 was repeated but tap water liquid, which is the right way to read its
 volume. In the volumetric flask, when the are capacity and readability. There are tools that
meniscus of the liquid reaches the calibration can measure large volumes, such as volumetric
mark, it is equivalent to the capacity of the flasks and burettes, while others can read little
instrument. In the micropipette, the amount of
to tiny amounts of liquid, like serological
liquid on the pipette tip can be seen in the
digital volume display window, which can be pipettes and micropipettes. A volume
adjusted based on how much liquid is required. measurement that follows the meniscus rule
also requires full attention as it needs to be at
Table 1: Volume Measurement eye level before arriving at the correct reading.
Serological Volumetric Flask Burette Micro Hence, it is recommended to be careful when
Pipette (Solute-Sucrose) pipette
dealing with volume measurement. The
IR FR Wt. of Solute R IR FR R serological pipette and burette should be used if
the reading does not call for the highest
1 0 3 0.1164 g 100 0 50 185
mL mL mL mL mL μL accuracy and precision, while the volumetric
flask and micropipette should be utilized when
2 0 3 0.1795 g 100 0 50 185 volume needs to be very accurate and precise.
mL mL mL mL mL μL

3 0 3 0.1126 g 100 0 50 185 CONCLUSION

mL mL mL mL mL μL
Since every drop of a chemical or solution is
DISCUSSION important in the manufacturing of medicines, it
is critical in the pharmaceutical industry to have
In the exercise concerning volume an accurate and precise measurement. After
measurement, four different laboratory finishing the given exercise, the group
instruments were utilized. Each group member concluded that the volumetric flask and
measured a volume of 3 mL of distilled water micropipette have the most accurate and precise
on the serological pipette by following the volume measurement when compared to the
lower meniscus. Meanwhile, when measuring serological pipette and burette. The volumetric
with the volumetric flask, the solute (sucrose) flask has one specific measurement that is
weighed 0.1164 g, 0.1795 g, and 0.1126 g on dependent on the capacity of the flask, while
the analytical balance before being dissolved in the micropipette contains a volumetric display,
distilled water. A volume of 100 mL was which can be adjusted based on the volume
gathered from the volumetric flask after the needed.
lower meniscus of the liquid had reached the
calibration mark. On the other hand, the group REFERENCES
1. Volumetric Measurement in the
had an initial reading of 0 mL of potassium
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final reading of 50 mL was recorded. In the _data/.
micropipette, the group was able to get 185 μL
out of 200 μL capacity of the micropipette as it 2. Tariq, R. A., et al., (2022). Medication
Dispensing Errors and Prevention.
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exercise. Furthermore, the limitations https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/N
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