year 1 bio: terms for experiment obervations

precipitate

insoluble solid that forms in a solution during a reaction and either makes the solution look cloudy or settles at the bottom

suspension

mixture of small insoluble solid particles in a liquid that separates out when left to settle

colloid

mixture of tiny particles (solid or liquid) in a liquid that doesn’t readily separate out. it makes the liquid look cloudy

emulsion

type of colloid in which tiny particles of a liquid are mixed in an immiscible liquid

solution

homogeneous (same state) mixture formed when a solute dissolves in a solvent

immiscible

liquids that cannot mix or dissolve into each other to form a uniform/homogeneous solution

precision

closeness in value of the measurements obtained in the same conditions

accuracy

closeness of the results to the true value

repeatability

precision achieved when measurements are produced by one person/group with the same equipment in the same place

reproducibility

precision achieved when measurements are produced by different people using different but equivalent equipment and places

uncertainty

estimate attached to a measurement which shows the range of values within which the true value lies (e.g. ±0.5cm³)

error of measurement

difference between the individual measurement and the true value

resolution

smallest change in the quantity being measured that can be detected by an instrument

equation for percentage error

% error = (uncertainty / measured value) x 100%