Experiment 2.

Density

Table of Contents
Experiment 2. Density..................................................................................................1
Goal.....................................................................................................................................1
Introduction........................................................................................................................1
Pre-lab Video- Measurement and Density............................................................................2
Procedure............................................................................................................................2
Part A. Determine density of water from Mass vs. Volume graph........................................................2
Part B. Determine density of an unknown liquid..................................................................................3
Part C. Determine density of a solid, using displacement method.......................................................3
Part D. Determine density of an unknown rectangular metal..............................................................3
Part E. Determine the thickness of Aluminum foil................................................................................4

Pre-Lab 2. Density........................................................................................................5
Laboratory Report 2. Density.......................................................................................6
Data and Calculations..........................................................................................................6
Part A. Density of Water.......................................................................................................................6
Part B. Unknown Liquid Number__________......................................................................................6
Part C. Density of Black Rubber Stopper...............................................................................................7
Part D. Density of unknown rectangular metal no. __________________..........................................7
Part E. Thickness of Aluminum foil.......................................................................................................7
Post Lab Question................................................................................................................7

Goal
 To determine density of water from Mass vs. Volume graph.
 To determine density on an unknown liquid.
 To determine density of a solid, using displacement method.
 To determine density of an unknown rectangular metal.
 To determine the thickness of Aluminum foil.

Introduction

Density is a physical property. It is defined as the mass per unit volume. Density is a
number that relates the mass of matter to the space it takes up. Some types of matter are
more "tightly packed" than others, and therefore have higher densities. All forms of
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matter-solids, liquids and gases have densities. Density is a useful physical property for
identifying and classifying materials. To determine density of a sample, one needs its
exact mass and exact volume. Use the following formula to calculate density:
Density = Mass/ Volume (D=M/V)
It is important to use proper units for the calculated density value. For solids, the units
are g/cc or g/cm3 (gram per cubic centimeters), for liquids, g/mL (grams per milliliter),
and for gases g/L (grams per liter).
Mass can be easily determined using a scale (balance). Volume of a liquid can be found
using a graduated cylinder. Volume of a solid can be found using a displacement
method or may be calculated using a mathematical formula if dimensions of a solid are
known. It has been observed that the density of solids is greater than the density of
liquids and gases. Gases have the lowest density. There are few exceptions. Can you
think of one?
Density is temperature dependent because volume is temperature dependent. At higher
temperature the volume would be greater therefore density value would be lower.
Conversely, T , V , and D .
It is required that proper number of significant figures is used in every
calculation!
The volume of a rectangular solid can be found by multiplying the length by width and
then by the height (Figure 1).

Pre-lab Video- Measurement and Density

Procedure
Part A. Determine density of water from Mass vs. Volume graph

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1. Obtain a clean and DRY 50-mL or 100-mL beaker. Find the exact mass of this beaker.
Record all the digits. Use the same scale throughout this experiment. You may record
your observations/data on this page then neatly transfer to your lab report.
2. Using a small graduated cylinder, transfer exactly 10.0 mL of water into the beaker.
When measuring the water in the graduated cylinder, remove any bubbles and read the
volume from the bottom of the meniscus. A dropper can be used to adjust the water
level in the graduated cylinder.
3. Using the same scale, find the exact mass of ‘beaker and 10.0 mL water’.
4. Now, using the same small graduated cylinder, transfer exactly another 10.0 mL of
water into the same beaker. Total volume in the beaker at this stage is 20.0 mL.
5. Find the exact mass of ‘beaker and 20.0 mL water’.
6. Using the small graduated cylinder, transfer exactly another 10.0 mL of water into the
beaker. Total volume in the beaker at this stage is 30.0 mL.
7. Find the exact mass of ‘beaker and 30.0 mL water’.
8. Using the small graduated cylinder, transfer exactly 10.0 mL of water into the beaker.
Total volume in the beaker at this stage is 40.0 mL.
9. Find the exact mass of ‘beaker and 40.0 mL water
Part B. Determine density of an unknown liquid
10. Record the unknown liquid sample number._____________.
11. Obtain a clean and DRY 10-mL graduated cylinder. Find its exact mass.
12. Carefully measure exactly 10.0 mL of unknown liquid into the 10-mL graduated
cylinder.
13. Find the mass of ‘the graduated cylinder and 10.0 mL unknown liquid’. Discard
unknown liquid into the sink.
Part C. Determine density of a solid, using displacement method
14. Find the exact mass of two ‘Black rubber stoppers #-00’.
15. Measure 25 mL of water in a clean 50 mL graduated cylinder. Tilt this graduated
cylinder and slowly slide both stoppers into the graduated cylinder. Record the new
volume, which is equal to 25.0 mL plus the volume of two ‘rubber stoppers’.
16. Drain the water into the sink and return both stoppers to its original container.
Part D. Determine density of an unknown rectangular metal
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17. Record the unknown rectangular metal sample number._____________.
18. Find exact mass of unknown rectangular metal sample.
19. Measure the length, width, and height of the unknown rectangular metal in cm.
20. Return the unknown rectangular metal to its original container.

Part E. Determine the thickness of Aluminum foil

21. Obtain a rectangular piece of Aluminum foil. Measure its length and width in cm.
22. Find the exact mass of rectangular piece of Aluminum foil.
23. Return the rectangular piece of Aluminum foil to its original container.

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 Laboratory Report 2. Density
Last Name____________________________, first name________________
(0, 0)
Date of Experiment___________ Instructor’s Initials_______

Data and Calculations

Part A. Density of Water

1. Mass of a DRY 50-mL or 100-mL beaker =_____________________g

2. Mass of the beaker plus 10.0 mL water =_____________________g
3. Mass of the beaker plus 20.0 mL water =_____________________g
4. Mass of the beaker plus 30.0 mL water =_____________________g
5. Mass of the beaker plus 40.0 mL water =_____________________g
6. Mass of 10.0 mL water (#2-#1) =_____________________g
7. Mass of 20.0 mL water (#3-#1) =_____________________g
8. Mass of 30.0 mL water (#4-#1) =_____________________g
9. Mass of 40.0 mL water (#5-#1) =_____________________g
Volume, mL Mass, g From step 6 – 9
x-axis (horizontal) y-axis (vertical)
0.0 0.00

10.0 Step 6 =

20.0 Step 7 =

30.0 Step 8 =

40.0 Step 9 =

Make a graph with volume of liquid (mL) on the x-axis and mass of liquid (g) on the y-
axis. Draw the best fit straight line through the 4 points and (0,0). Find the slope, D.
Use of Microsoft Excel is encouraged. Attach your graph to this lab report.
Part B. Unknown Liquid Number__________
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10. Mass of a DRY 10-mL graduated cylinder =_____________________g
11. Mass of graduated cylinder and 10.0 mL unknown liquid =______________g
12. Mass of unknown liquid = (#11- #10) =_____________________g
13. Density of Unknown Liquid = Mass/ Volume = #12 / 10.0 mL= _________ g/mL
Part C. Density of Black Rubber Stopper
14. Mass of ‘rubber stoppers’ =_____________________g
15. Volume of ‘rubber stoppers’ (step-15) =__________________cc
16. Density of ‘rubber stoppers’= #14/#15 =_________________ g/ cc
Part D. Density of unknown rectangular metal no.
__________________
17. Mass of unknown rectangular metal =_____________________g
18. Volume of unknown rectangular metal = (LxWxH) = _______________cm3
19. Density of unknown rectangular metal = #17/#18 = ____________ g/cm3
Part E. Thickness of Aluminum foil
20. Length of Aluminum foil = ___________ cm
21. Width of Aluminum foil = ___________ cm
22. Mass of Aluminum foil = __________________ g
23. Density of Aluminum foil, given = 2.70 g/cm3
24. Volume of Aluminum foil = Mass/Density = #22/#23 = ___________ cm3
25. Thickness of Aluminum foil = Height of Aluminum foil = [V / (L XW)]
= [#24/ (#20 x #21)] = _____________ cm

Post Lab Question

Show all your work! Use proper units and significant figures!

1. A piece of metal weighs 44.867 g. When the metal is lowered into 25.0 mL of
water in graduated cylinder, the level rises to 28.5 mL. Calculate the density of metal.

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2. A solid cube, 2.2 cm on an edge weighed 6.488 grams. Calculate the density of
this cube. Will it sink or float in water? Explain.

3. Alcohol has a density of 0.79 g/mL. What is the volume of 22.036 g alcohol?

4. A tin foil has a mass of 0.822 g and measures 10.5 cm by 4.50 cm. Calculate the
thickness of this tin foil, given that the density of tin is 7.28 g/cm3.

5. The density of gasoline is 0.77 g/mL. How much does 12 gallons of gasoline
weigh?