A literature value in chemistry refers to a value that has been established through previous research and experiments, which can often be found in scientific journals, textbooks, or reliable online databases. These values are typically for fundamental properties of substances, such as boiling points, melting points, densities, or specific heat capacities.
Understanding literature values is crucial for chemists and researchers as it provides a benchmark for experimental results. When performing an experiment, a chemist can compare their findings with these established values to assess the accuracy and reliability of their results. If the experimental data matches closely with the literature value, it can suggest that the experiment was conducted properly and that the conditions were appropriate.
For example, if a chemist measures the boiling point of water and finds it to be around 100°C at standard atmospheric pressure, they can compare this to the literature value of 100°C to validate their result. Any significant deviation may indicate experimental errors or improper conditions.
Overall, literature values serve as an essential reference in the field of chemistry, aiding in verification and further scientific inquiry.