Lab: Density of Liquids

Pre-Lab Questions
1. List the densities of some solids you have measured so far. (Ex.
pennies, marbles, metal samples)
2. How do you think the density of a liquid will compare with the density
of a solid?
3. Predict the three liquids, water, saltwater, and isopropyl alcohol, we
will be measuring and calculating the density of today. List them most
to least dense.

Materials
Balance
Graduated Cylinders (10 and 100 mL)
Dropper
Water
Saltwater
Isopropyl Alcohol

Procedures
Water:
1. Find the mass of your 100 mL graduated cylinder.
2. Using a dropper, carefully fill the graduated cylinder to the 10mL
mark. Mass the graduated cylinder and liquid. Subtract the mass of
the empty graduated cylinder and record the mass of the liquid in the
data table.
3. Add 10 more mL of water to the graduated cylinder to make a total of
20 mL. Mass the graduated cylinder and liquid. Subtract the mass of
the empty graduated cylinder and record the mass of the liquid in the
data table.
4. Repeat step 3 for 30, 40, and 50 mL of liquid.
5. Calculate the densities of liquid for each volume. Take an average of
all volumes and record this value in the data table.
Isopropyl Alcohol
1. Find the mass of your 10 mL graduated cylinder.
2. Using a dropper, carefully fill the graduated cylinder to the 1 mL
mark. Mass the graduated cylinder and liquid. Subtract the mass of
 the empty graduated cylinder and record the mass of the liquid in the
data table.
3. Add 1 more mL of water to the graduated cylinder to make a total of
2 mL. Mass the graduated cylinder and liquid. Subtract the mass of
the empty graduated cylinder and record the mass of the liquid in the
data table.
4. Repeat step 3 for 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, and 9 mL of liquid.
5. Calculate the densities of liquid for each volume. Take an average of
all volumes and record this value in the data table.
Saltwater:
1. Repeat the same process as water.

Post-Lab Analysis
1. The density of water is 1.0 g/mL and the density of isopropyl alcohol
is 0.79 g/mL. Calculate how close your data averages were to the
actual values by using the following percent error formula.

2. Were you correct in your predictions about the densities of the

liquids?
3. Which substances are generally more dense, solids, liquids, or gases?
4. What does this tell you about particle arrangement of molecules in
solids, liquids, and gases?