INTRODUCTION

The density, ρ, of an object is defined as the ratio of its

mass to its volume. Density can be useful in identifying
substances. It is also a convenient property because it
provides a link (or conversion factor) between the mass
and the volume of a substance.
(1)
ρ = m/V
Mass and volume are extensive (or extrinsic) properties of
matter - they depend on amount. Density, an intensive (or
intrinsic) property, is a kind of "heaviness" factor. In
macroscopic terms, density reflects how much mass is
packed into a given three-dimensional space. Typically,
densities are reported g/ml or g/cm3 (which are equivalent
because 1ml ≡ 1cm3). Experimentally, mass and volume
measurements are required to calculate density.Masses
are measured on electronic balances. Pan balances,
which are accurate to ±0.01 g, are used for quick
measurements where greater precision is not required.
Analytical balances (accurate to ±0.0001 g) are used for
more precise measurements.Volume is an amount of
space, in three dimensions, that a sample of matter
occupies. The number and the phase of the molecules in
the sample primarily determine the volume of a substance.
Volume will be measured in many ways in this course, but
the units are usually milliliters (mL) or cubic centimeters
(cm3). Methods for determining or delivering precise
volumes include volumetric pipets and pycnometers; less
precise methods include burets, graduated cylinders, and
graduated pipets.

Goals or objectives
To Calculate the density of a substance from
measurements of its mass and volume
To Calculate the specific gravity of a liquid from its density

A . Density of a Solid

To determine the density of a substance, you need to

measure mass and its volume. From the mass and
volume, the density is calculated If the mass is measured
in grams and the volume in milliliters, the density will have
the units of g/ Ml.
𝑚𝑎𝑠𝑠 𝑜𝑓 𝑠𝑢𝑏𝑠𝑡𝑎𝑛𝑐𝑒 𝑔 𝑜𝑓 𝑠𝑢𝑏
Density of a substance = =𝑚𝐿 𝑜𝑓 𝑠𝑢𝑏
𝑣𝑙𝑢𝑚𝑒 𝑜𝑓 𝑠𝑢𝑏𝑠𝑡𝑎𝑛𝑐𝑒

B. Density of a Liquid

To determine the density of a liquid, you need the mass

and volume of the liquid. The mass of a liquid is
determined by weighing. The mass of a container is
obtained and then a certain volume of liquid is added and
the combined mass determined. Subtracting the mass of
the container gives the mass of the liquid. From the mass
and volume, the density is calculated.

𝑀𝑎𝑠𝑠 (𝑔)𝑜𝑓 𝑙𝑖𝑞𝑢𝑖𝑑

Density of liquid Specific = 𝑣𝑜𝑙𝑢𝑚𝑒 (𝑚𝐿)𝑜𝑓 𝑙𝑖𝑞𝑢𝑖𝑑

C. Specific Gravity

The specific gravity of a liquid is a comparison of the

density of that of water, which is 1.00 g/mL at (15°C).

Density of liquid (g/mL)

Specific gravity (sp gr) =
Density of water (l.00 g/mL)
 Specific gravity is a number with no units; the units of
density (g/mL) have canceled out.

D. Graphing Mass and volume

c Calculate the specific gravity (sG) of each liquid you

used in B Divide its density by the standard density of
water (l.00 g/m L) Read the hydrometer set n a graduated
cylinder containing the same iquid you used in the density
section. Record. Some hydrometers use the European
decimal point, which is a comma. The value 1.000 on
European sca s read as 1.000. Record specific gravity as

D. Graphing Mass and Volume

Materials: Metal pieces such as Copper, and 50-mL

graduated cylinder. In this graphing activity, we will show
the relationship between the mass and volume of a
substance. The volume and mass of three different
samples of the same substance will be measured After the
data for the samples are collected, the mass and volume
of each will be used to prepare a graph. The density (g/ml
will be visually represented on a graph D. Place about 25
ml of water in a 50-mL graduated cylinder. Carefully
record the initial mass and volume of water. determine D.2
Place the copper and water on a top loading balance and
their mass, Record, level of the D 3 Add two or three
pieces of same metal. Record the new water and record
the new mass. (Subtract the initial volume of water from
new water level to determine the volume of the metal
pieces). (Determine the mass of the metal pieces by
subtracting the initial mass from this combined mass At
each time record the resulting water level and the w mass.
Repeat this process for a total of three sets of data 4
Prepare a graph by plotting the mass (g) of the metal
pieces on the vertical axis and the volume (mL) of on
horizontal axis (x). Use a ruler to draw a line through the
points you have plotted. some of the points fall off the line,
run the line between them o you have as many points
above the line as you have below the line Draw a smooth
line through the points. density of the metal. D5 The slope
of the line on the graph represents the Mark two places on
the line. Divide the difference between the two mass
values by the difference of the two values for volume.

Mass(2)− Mass(1)
volume (2)− volume(1) = g/m L = density of metal

Experimental Procedures:

Density of a Solid

Materials: Metal object, string or thread, graduated

cylinder
A.1 Mass of the solid: Obtain a solid metal object.
Determine its mass and record.
A 2 volume of the solid by displacement obtain a
graduated cylinder that is large enough to hold the solid
metal object. Add water cylinder is about half full. Read
the water level carefully and record. If the solid object is
heavy, lower it into the water by attaching a string or
thread. While the solid object is submerged in the
water, record the final water level. Calculate the volume
of the solid
Volume of solid = Final water level= water level.
A 3 Calculating the density of the solid: Calculate
the density ml of the solid by dividing its mass (g by its
volume (ml.). Be sure t determine the correct number of
significant figures in your calculated density value.
 Mass(g)ofsoild
Density of solid= =
Volume(mL)of solid

B. Density of a Liquid

Materials: 50-mL cylinder, two liquid samples. 100 ml or

beaker, and thermometer graduated
B l volume of liquid: Place about 20 mL of water in a 50-
mL cylinder. Record Do not use the markings on beakers
to measure volume, they are not precise) by weighing by
B.2 Mass of liquid: The mass of a liquid is found
difference. First, determine the mass of beaker Put the
liquid into the beaker, and reweigh. Record the combined
mass. Calculate th mass of the liquid mass of beaker Net
mass of liquid mass of beaker liquid) initial
B 3 Density of liquid: Calculate the density of the liquid
by dividing its mass (g) by the volume (mL) of the liquid
provided in the laboratory Repeat the same procedure for
another liquid
C. Specific Gravity of a Liquid
Materials: Water, liquids used in part B in graduated
cylinders with hydrometer