Instead of reporting a single number, chemists report a range. A 95% Confidence Interval tells the reader: "I am 95% sure the true value lies between X and Y." This accounts for both the mean and the uncertainty of the measurement.
Analytical chemists use these tests to determine if a difference in results is "real" or just a fluke of random error. Statistical Methods in Analytical Chemistry (Ch...
Most analytical instruments produce a signal (like absorbance) that must be converted to concentration. Instead of reporting a single number, chemists report