CAB 1033

Chemical Engineering Fluids Mechanics

Laboratory Report

Experiment 1
Properties of Fluids
Group C15

Muhammad Khalil bin Husrin

15157

Muhammad Mukhlis bin Ahmad Kamal

13727

Muhammad Nurhanafi bin Azlan 13137

Nurul Fatinah bt Sapuan
Nurul Hafizah bt Nizam

Introduction

13676
13679

The understanding of properties of fluid is extremely important in almost every

process plants nowadays. It helps the engineers to do the necessary calculation
based on the properties of the fluid used in their process plant. This can increase
the production of the plant; making it more efficient and less costly.

Purpose of the Experiment

Experiment 1 is carried out to determine the properties of fluid. There are several
properties of fluid that is being investigated which are;
1.
To determine the density of various fluids using the conventional weighing
method, using the density bottle (SG bottle) and the hydrometer.
2.
To determine the effect of liquid concentration on its density using the
conventional weighing method and using the density bottle (SG bottle).
3.

To determine the effect of salt concentrationin water towards density.

4.
To determine the height of liquid rise due to capillarity effect in glass tubes
and plates.

RESULTS
EXPERIMENT 1a(i) : Using conventional weighing method
Type of fluid : Acetone (40ml)
Mass of bottle, m1 (g)

22.08

Mass of (bottle + fluid),

m2(g)

53.44

31.36

Mass of fluid,(m2
m1) (g)

40

Table 1a(i)

Calculation:
The density can be calculated by formula:
=

acetone=

m2-m1 (in g)
volume( mL)

53.44 g22.08 g
40.00 mL

10
10
10
10

= 784 kg/m
Theoretical value for density of water = 1000 kg/ m3

Percentage different = |Theoretical value Experimental value | x 100%

Theoretical value
= 1000 - 784 x 100%
1000
=21.6

Volume
of fluid,
V(mL)

784

Density,
kg/m3)

0.784

SG

Liquids

Water

SG (specific

0.998

gravity)
substance

998

(kg/m)

Experiment 1a(ii) : Principle and usage of hydrometer

Table 1a(ii)

substance
SG = ___________________
water at specified T and P

water at specified T and P = 1000 Kg/m

water (measured) = 998 (Kg/m)

water (theoretical) = 1000 (Kg/m)

Percentage error = [(1000-998)/1000] x 100% = 0.2%

Experiment 1b (i): Using conventional weighing method

Concentration

Mass

Volume

Mass

of water

of

of

methanol

water,

water,

, m2 (g)

m1 (g)

V1 (mL)

v/v %

of Volume

Total

Total

Density

of

mass

volume

of

methanol

(m1+m2)

(V1+V2)

mixture,

, V2 (mL)

mix
(kg/m3)

20

9.88

10

31.26

40

41.14

50

822.80

40

19.7

20

22.94

30

42.64

50

852.80

60

29.43

30

15.17

20

44.60

50

892.00

80

39.97

40

7.65

10

47.62

50

952.40

Table 1b(i)

graph of density against concentration

1000
950
f(x) = 2.14x + 773
R = 0.97

900

density

850
800
750
10

20

30

40

50

60

concentration

Calculation
Experimental value
mix = mmix / Vmix = [ (m1+m2) / (V1+V2) (106/103) ] kg/m3

70

80

90

For concentration of water 20%,

mix = mmix / Vmix = [ (m1+m2) / (V1+V2) 106/103 ] kg/m3

[ (9.88+31.26) / (10+40)

822.80

10 6
10 3

kg
m3

For concentration of water 40%

=

mix [(19.7+22.94) / (20+30)

852.80

10 6
10 3

kg
m3

kg
3
m

For concentration of water 60%

mix = [(29.43+15.17) / (30+20)

10 6
10 3

kg
m3

kg
892.00 m3

For concentration of water 80%

mix = [(39.97+7.65) / (40+10)

kg
= 952.40 m3
Theoretical value
Density of water = 1000 kg/m3
Density of methanol = 792 kg/m3

10 6
10 3

kg
m3

kg
m3

 = (Concentration of water/100)1000kg/m3 + [1- (Concentration of waterl/100)]789.9kg/m3

For concentration of water 20%,

= 0.2 1000 kg/m3 + (1-0.2) 792 kg/m3
= 833.60 kg/m3

For concentration of water 40%

= 0.4 1000 kg/m3 + (1-0.4) 792 kg/m3
= 875.2 kg/m3

For concentration of water 60%

= 0.6 1000 kg/m3 + (1-0.6) 792 kg/m3
= 916.80 kg/m3

For concentration of water 80%

= 0.8 1000 kg/m3 + (1-0.8) 792 kg/m3
= 958.40 kg/m3

Percentage different = |Theoretical value Experimental value | x 100%

Theoretical value

For concentration of water 20%,

Percentage different = |833.60 822.80 | x 100%
833.60
= 1.30%

Concentration of

Theoretical fluid

Experimental fluid

Percentage different

water, v/v %

density (kg/m3)

density (kg/m3)

(%)

20

833.60

822.80

1.30

40

875.20

852.80

2.56

60

916.80

892.00

2.71

80

958.40

952.40

0.63

Table 1b(i)percentage error

Experiment 1b(ii) Using hydrometer

Concentration of

Specific

Density,
(kg/m3)

water, v/v %

gravity,SG

20

0.7835

783.5

40

0.8110

811.0

60

0.9890

989.0

80

0.9950

995.0

Table 1b(ii)

substance
SG = ___________________
water at specified T and P

kg
substance at 20% = (0.7835)(1000 m3 )

kg
=783.5 m3
kg
substance at 40% = (0.8110)(1000 m3 )

kg
=811.0 m3

kg
substance at 60% = (0.9890)(1000 m3 )

kg
=989.0 m3

kg
substance at 80% = (0.9950)(1000 m3 )

kg
=995.0 m3

Experiment 1c(i): Using density bottle

Concentratio
n (ppm)

Mass of
bottle,m1(g)

Mass of
(bottle+liquid
mixture),m2(g)

Mass of
fluid,(m2m1)(g)

Volume of
fluid,v(ml)

50.06

133.36

227.86

94.5

3.78

60.07

133.36

228.45

95.09

3.80

70.08

133.36

231.99

98.63

80.09

133.36

234.99

101.63

4.07

90.10

133.36

235.91

102.55

4.10

25

Density of mixture

3.94

Density of mixture = mass of fluid / density of mixture

Density of mixture
4.2
4.1
4

Density of mixture

3.9
3.8
3.7
3.6
45 50 55 60 65 70 75 80 85 90 95

Experiment 1c (ii): Using Hydrometer

Concentration (ppm)

Specific Gravity (SG)

Density (kg/m3)

50.06

1.000

1000

60.07

1.001

1001

70.08

1.002

1002

80.09

1.003

1003

90.10

1.004

1004

1005
1004

f(x) = 0.1x + 995

R = 1

1003
1002
Density

1001

Density

Linear (Density)

1000
999
998
40

50

60

70

80

90

100

Concentration

Calculations:

M1V1 =M2V2

1. (1)V = (0.0.5)(100)
1.000x1000
V = 5 ml

SG=

P substance
P water at specified T P
P substance =
= 1000 kgm-

2. (1)V = (0.06)(100)
1.001x1000
V = 6 ml
3

P substance =
= 1001 kgm-

3. (1)V = (0.07)(100)

P substance =

1.002x1000
V = 7 ml

= 1002 kgm-

4. (1) V = (0.08)(100)

P substance =

1.003x1000
V = 8 ml

1003 kgm-3
5. (1) V = (0.09)(100)

P substance =

1.004x1000
V = 9 ml

1004 kgm-3

Experiment 1d: Surface Tension And Capillarity

a) Capillary Rise in Glass Tube
Diameter,mm

Hmeasured,mm

Hcalc, mm

Error, %

1.0

28.7

29.8

3.7

1.5

19.3

19.8

2.5

2.0

14.2

14.9

4.7

b) Capillary Rise in Glass Plate

Diameter,mm

Hmeasured,mm

Hcalc, mm

Error, %

0.3

51.5

49.6

3.7

0.4

36.1

37.2

3.0

0.6

23.5

24.8

4.2

c) Capillary Rise in Wedge-shaped Vessel

Diameter,mm

Hmeasured,mm

Hcalc, mm

Error, %

16

0.89

0.93

4.3

15

0.97

0.99

2.0

14

1.05

1.06

0.9

13

1.13

1.15

1.7

12

1.21

1.24

2.4

Calculations:

Capillary rise in glass tube.

For diameter 1.0 mm,

h=

2 ( 0.073 ) cos 0
( 1000 ) ( 9.81 ) ( 5 x 104 )

Error=

29.828.7
x 100=3.7
29.8

29.8 mm
For diameter 1.5 mm,

h=

2 ( 0.073 ) cos 0
( 1000 ) ( 9.81 ) ( 0.75 x 104 )

Error=

19.819.3
x 100
19.8

2.5

19.8 mm
For diameter 2.0 mm,

h=

2 ( 0.073 ) cos 0
( 1000 ) ( 9.81 ) ( 5 x 104 )

14.9 mm

Error=

14.914.2
x 100
14.9

4.7

Capillary rise in glass plate.

For thickness 0.3mm,

h=

Error=

2 ( 0.073 ) cos 0
(1000)(9.81)(3 x 104 )

51.549.636.1
x 100
51.5

3.7

2 mm

For thickness 0.4mm,

h=

Error=

2 ( 0.073 ) cos 0
(1000)(9.81)( 4 x 104)

37.236.1
x 100
37.2

3.0

37.2mm

For thickness 0.6mm,

h=

Error=

2 ( 0.073 ) cos 0
(1000)(9.81)(6 x 104 )

23.824.8
x 100
23.8

4.2

24.8 mm

Capillary rise in wedge-shaped vessel.

For thickness 16mm,

h=

2 ( 0.073 ) cos 0
(1000)( 9.81)(0.016)

0.930 mm

Error=

4.3

0.930.89
x 100
0.93

For thickness 15mm,

h=

2 ( 0.073 ) cos 0
(1000)( 9.81)(0.015)

Error=

0.990.97
x 100
0.99

2.0

0.990 mm

For thickness 14mm,

h=

2 ( 0.073 ) cos 0
(1000)(9.81)(0.014 )

Error=

1.061.05
x 100
1.06

0.9

1.06 mm

For thickness 13mm,

h=

2 ( 0.073 ) cos 0
(1000)( 9.81)(0.013)

Error=

1.151.13
x 100
1.15

1.7

1.15 mm

For thickness 12mm,

h=

2 ( 0.073 ) cos 0
(1000)(9.81)(0.012)

1.24 mm

Error=

2.4

1.241.21
x 100
1.24

DISCUSSION

Experiment 1a: Determination of Density and Specific Gravity of Liquids and Experiment
1b: Effect of Concentration on Liquid Density

From experiment 1.a) the percentage error is about 21% which is quite high and for 1.b),
the percentage error is about 1.3%, and therefore the results can be accepted except for the
part 1a.

This percentage error may occur when measuring the volume for each fluid. For
experiment 1a, acetone is used while for experiment 1b, methanol is used for the comparison
with water. Fluids like acetone and methanol which are easily evaporated can affect the
measurement. The value of density is affected slightly by temperature surrounding, pressure

changes and air might give effect on the weight measurement giving less accurate result. Other
than that, parallax error may occur while reading the scale from the measuring cylinder.

From the data, using hydrometer method is more reliable since the smallest percentage
errors readings are taken from the result which is 1.3%. The method that is more accurate to
measure the density is the digital hydrometer which is available in todays market. The
advantages of using this device are it accuracy is +/- 0.001. Plus, it is also have a Specific
Gravity testing range from 0.0000 to 2.0000.

Experiment 1c: Effect of Salinity on Density of Water

Based on the graph above, the increase of concentration of salt will increase the density
of water.
Concentration is the amount of substance present in a given quantity of another substance. The
first substance could be solid, liquid or gas. This is called a solute and the substance in which it
is added is called solvent. This solvent is generally liquid.

Density=

mass
volume

Density is defined as mass per unit volume of a substance. Generally, the density of an
object is the total mass of the object divided by the total volume of the object. Thus, density and
concentration are related terms dealing with concentration in general. Concentration deals with
small particle while density is concerned with the mass. Thus, concentration is directly
proportional to density for elemental substances but not in general.

A natural phenomenon that proves that concentration of salt affect density of water is
seawater is denser than pure water. This is because the mass of salt in seawater is higher than
pure water. Another example is when we try to float in a swimming pool or sea. Did you notice
that floating in seawater is easier than floating in a swimming pool? This explains that denser
water, which is seawater, tends to stay at the bottom of the layer of water.

Experiment 1d: Surface Tension and Capillarity Effect

From the results obtained in the experiment, capillary rise varies for each of tubes
diameters and plate openings. Capillary rise depends on the thickness of the tubes or plates
opening: the bigger the tubes diameter or opening of plate, the higher the capillary rise of the
fluid. The relationship between the thickness of the opening and capillary rise can be shown in
this equation:

h=

2 cos
yd

This equation shows that the height of the capillary rise is inversely proportional to
diameter or opening of the tube or plate.

Surface tension is important for hydrostatic calculations because the trend of the fluid
meniscus can be determined from equation. If mercury is replaced with water in this experiment,
it will give a negative value for the same value of diameter. This shows that the meniscus for
mercury is downward compared to water that is upward.

The difference in the theoretical value and experimental value is caused by such as
parallax error which gives inaccurate readings from the ruler in the wrong eye position.
Temperature also may be a factor that contributes to this issue the surface. The presence of
impurities (colored water) also affects the value of the surface tension of water.

The principle of surface tension is applied in piping and fluid-storing industry.

CONCLUSION

Based on the experiment 1a and 1b, the experimental value of density of the
fluids obtained are slightly different from the theoretical value due some errors such
asinaccuracy of the hydrometer itself, parallax error which means the eyes did not
parallel while taking the readings and the hydrometer was not properly put into the
measuring cylinder. The percentage error of the experiment can be reduced by
conducting in the vacuum place for example in a vacuum cupboard so. Furthermore, the
hydrometer must be carefully inserted and allow it to settle in the centre of the cylinder
without let it touch the sides or otherwise surface tension affects may cause of errors.
Experiment can be conducted using air barrier to give more accurate value. During the
measurement for the volume there is fluid dispelled that give rise to inaccuracy.
Besides, the plastic measuring cylinder also gave inaccurate reading because the
meniscus did not form according to its real shape.
Hydrometer is actually used to identify the Specific Gravity (SG), hence the value
of density of the various fluids can be determined can by using the formulae,

substances = SG x water at specified T and P.From the data, it was found that by using the
hydrometer, the SG of the substances was closed to the theoretical value as the
percentage error also low.
The accuracy of the result can be improved through few cautions. The first thing
is the measuring cylinder used must be made up of glass in order to make sure the
meniscus will be formed according to its exact shape so that the observer could take the
reading as accurate as possible. Once both of the two liquids in the measuring cylinder
are mixed together, immediately shake the mixture thoroughly. Please make it as fast as
possible when takingreading of the mass and volume of acetone or the mixture as
acetone will vaporises easily which then resulted errors in readings. Besides, the
experiment should be carried out in a closed environment where still air is maintained in
order not to affect the mass reading from the electronic weighing machine. After all the
percentage difference will be decrease, thus a more precise and accurate result can be
obtained.
Based on the experiment 1c, the increase of the concentration of the salt will
result increase in the density of water. Generally, the density of an object is the total
mass of the object divided by the total volume of the object. It seems that by using a
hydrometer, the density keep increasing in a small value but in density of bottle it
increase just a bit more than the hydrometer.
For the experiment 1d, the height of capillary rise for different tube and plates
varies according to their diameter. The height of the capillary rise increases as the
diameter decreases. The effect of surface tension is important when performing a
hydrostatic calculation.The relationship between the thickness of the opening and
capillary rise can be shown in this equation:
2 cos
h=
yd
This equation shows that the height of the capillary rise is inversely proportional
to diameter or opening of the tube or plate.

APPENDIX
1. NOMECLATURE
m1......................................initial mass, g
m2final mass, g
vvolume, mL
..density, kg/m3
SGspecific gravity
hheight, mm
..surface tension, N/m
..contact angle, 0
specific weight,
rradius of tube,
d..distance between two plates,
ppmpart per million,

2. PRECAUTION
The hydrometer must be put into the water has enough depth.

Before taking reading from the hydrometer, make sure the water is stable and
the hydrometer is ready.
While taking the reading of the hydrometer, make sure the eyes are parallel
with the hydrometer level.
Make sure you shake thoroughly the cylinder immediately after mix both of
the two liquids.
Make sure that the tube does not touch the bottom of the tank.

REFERENCE

1. MohdZamri Abdullah 2006, Fluid Mechanic module, University Technology Petronas

2. Noel de N. 2005, Fluid Mechanics for Chemical Engineers, New York, McGraw Hill