Bill, a lab technician, was asked to measure out sodium hydroxide (NaOH) for an experiment in a research lab. He was given a choice between a beaker, a graduated cylinder, and a buret (shown left). Bill used a graduated cylinder to measure the liquid NaOH because he says, “a graduated cylinder is the most accurate way to measure a liquid!” Do you agree or disagree with Bill? Use significant figures to justify your answer.

He is wrong . Most accurate is Buret .

Explanation:

The number of significant figure denotes the level of accuracy of a measurement .

Beaker can measure liquid in mL upto significant figure of 2 . That means it can measure volume in terms of 10 , 20 , 30mL etc . It can not measure 25 mL

accurately . The last figure of 28 mL is read by guess in the question . So it is not an accurate measurement .

Similarly , graduated cylinder can measure liquid upto significant figure of 3 .  That means it can measure volume in terms of 11 , 22 , 33 mL etc . It can not measure 25.5  mL accurately . The last figure of 28.3  mL is read by guess in the question . So it is less  accurate measurement .

Similarly , buret  can measure liquid upto significant figure of 4 .  That means it can measure volume in terms of 11.2 , 22.3 , 33.5 mL etc . It can not measure 25.53  mL accurately . The last figure of 28.32  mL is read by guess in the question . So it is most accurate among all the three instrument because it can measure accurately mL upto one tenth of it .