Estimating the Amount of Sugar in Kool Aid

Alma Wolf
4.12.18

Pre Lab
1. Define the following terms in the context of this investigation.
a. Standard solution
b. Calibration curve
c. Blank
In our investigation, we used six standard solutions and one blank to make a calibration curve.
A standard solution is a solution where you know the concentration, by mass, of the solute. In
our investigation, this meant that we knew how much grape kool aid powder was in each
solution. A blank is just the solvent without any solute dissolved in it. In the case of our lab, this
was water. If you plot the concentration and absorption (found using a spectrophotometer) of
each standard solution on a graph, then find a line of best fit for those points, that is a calibration
curve. The calibration curve illustrates the relationship between absorption and concentration;
then, if we know absorption we can find concentration and vice versa.

2. Define solute, solvent, solution, and concentration in the context of this investigation.
Give a clear contextual example of each.
A solute is a substance dissolved in a liquid called the solvent. This mixture is called a solution.
Grape kool aid powder was the solute, dissolved in the solvent, water. Concentration is the ratio
of solute to solution. In our lab, we used concentrations ranging from 1 g/dL to 20 g/dL.

3. What are the independent variables and dependent variables in this in this investigation?
When plotting a calibration curve, which variable (independent or dependent) goes on
which axis?
The independent variable in this investigation is the concentration of grape kool aid powder. The
dependent variable is the absorption of light. When you plot this data to generate a calibration
curve, the independent variable is on the x-axis and the dependent variable is on the y-axis.

4. Explain how a calibration curve can be used to determine the concentration of an

unknown solution. Be specific.
A calibration curve relates concentration (​x​) and absorption (​y​) through an equation. Because
this equation connects concentration and absorption, knowing one value allows you to solve for
the other value. In our lab, the equation is y = 0.095x + 0.117 . This equation can be used to find
the concentration by plugging the absorption value, found by the spectrophotometer, in for ​y​ and
solving for ​x​. The ​x​ value equals the concentration.

5. Explain the basic operation of the spectrophotometer.

In our investigation, we used a spectrophotometer to measure the opacity of a solution by how
much light it absorbs. To use a spectrophotometer, you put a sample of your solution into a
small container called a cuvette. Then, you insert the cuvette into an opening; the
spectrophotometer shoots light waves through the solution and measures the light that is able to
pass through. This allows the instrument to calculate how much light was absorbed by the
solution, which is graphed as absorption.

Results and Analysis

1. Display the plot created.

The R​2​ value of my trendline is 0.97 and the equation of the line is y = 0.0953x + 0.117

2. Solve for the concentration of grape kool aid in the unknowns using the equation of the
line of best fit.
Unknown A
Absorption (y) = 1.370
1.370 = 0.0953x + 0.117
1.253 = 0.0953x
13.15 = x
The concentration of Unknown A is 13.15 g/dL.

Unknown C
Absorption (y) = 0.788
0.788 = 0.0953x + 0.117
0.671 = 0.0953x
7.04 = x
The concentration of Unknown C is 7.04 g/dL.
 3. Compare your experimental concentration with the actual concentration using a percent
error calculation.

Unknown A
Calculated Concentration = 13.15 g/dL
Actual Concentration = 12 g/dL
| 13.15−12 |
| 12 | * 100 = 9.58
The percent error for Unknown A is 9.58%.

Unknown C
Calculated Concentration = 7.04 g/dL
Actual Concentration = 6 g/dL
| 7.04−6 |
| 6 | * 100 = 17.3
The percent error for Unknown C is 17.3%.

4. Describe the precision and accuracy of this method for determining the concentration of
the Kool Aid.

I think that our methods were fairly reliable for determining the concentration of Kool Aid.
Although there were some errors, the concentrations we calculated were relatively accurate.

Our trendline had one noticeable mistake. We used a blank (concentration 0 g/dL) to begin the
calibration curve, so the line should have gone through the origin, (0,0). However, the
y-intercept is 0.117. This discrepancy is likely due to an error in entering our standard solutions;
it is possible that we didn’t enter that the concentration was 0 g/dL when we graphed the blank.

Even though there was this error in our line of best fit, it is still reliable. Our R​2​ value is 0.97,
where 1 is the most accurate value. Our RMSE was 0.13, where 0 is the most accurate value.
Because we interpolated the line to determine the unknown concentrations, our estimates of the
unknowns are also fairly close; we estimated the concentration of Unknown A to be 13.15 g/dL
when it was really 12 g/dL, and we estimated Unknown C to be 7.04 g/dL when it was really 6
g/dL. This means that the percent-error for Unknown A was 9.58%, and Unknown C was 17.3%.
Considering the mistake in the y-intercept of our trendline, those percent-error values are
relatively good.

In regards to the reliability of our instruments and standard solutions, I noticed that there were
some inaccuracies when we prepared our standard solutions and we weren’t as careful as we
could have been. Some of the solutions perfectly measured 100 mL, but some were slightly
above the line of the volumetric flask. The spectrophotometer seemed to be a reliable
instrument, and it gave us the absorption value to three decimal places; however, there was the
error in graphing the blank. It was probably our mistake, but it does slightly undermine the
credibility of the instrument.

Overall, I would say that this is a reliable way of determining the concentration of unknowns for
our purpose, which was to learn about calibration curves and interpolating data. I don’t think this
method should be used for more precise data, like that on a nutrition label, but measuring
absorption to calculate concentration is effective for less precise scenarios.