Density

Densities of Common
What is Density?Elements
and Compounds
Density: The amount

of matter that
occupies a certain
space.
It is the mass per unit

volume of a
substance.

Density
Substance grams per mL or
cc
Water

1.00

Aluminum,
Al

2.70

Iron, Fe

7.80

Gold, Au

19.30

Mercury, Hg

13.5

Lets look at Examples of

Density:
1. Lead is much more dense than iron. So given

the same volume of each, lead will weigh

more (have more mass).
2. Ice (solid) is less dense than water (liquid).
Therefore ice floats on water

Frozen Ice

Liquid
Water

Water is a Chemical Exception!

Almost all chemical compounds are least

dense in the gas form and increase in density

towards the solid form.

(Most dense)

Solid Liquid

Gas (Least dense)

Water densities:

Gas = Least dense

Liquid = Most dense
Solid = Less dense than liquid (in water only!)

Calculating Density
To calculate density you need two

things:
Mass and Volume
D=
D = density
M
M = mass
V = volume
V units:
Can have several different
kg/l
g/ml
g/cm3

Example
A softball has a mass of 360 g and a volume of

270 cm3. Find its density.

Given:
Mass = 360 g
Volume = 270 cm3
Required:
Density (in g/cm3)
Answer :
D = M/V = 360 g / 270 cm 3 = 1.33 g/cm3

Displacement
https://www.youtube.com/watch?

v=ijj58xD5fDI

Example
We measured the volume of a piece of copper by

displacement in a beaker of water. The initial volume of

water was 21ml and after placing our piece of copper
into the beaker, the new volume was 26ml. Calculate
the density this piece of copper weighing 53.47g.
(remember density = mass / volume)
Mass = 53.47g
Volume = 26 ml-21 ml = 5 ml
Density = 53.47 g = 10.694 g/ml
5 ml
A pen has what density?

Worksheet How Much? How Dense?

Mass

Volume

25 g

40 mL

280 kg

1.5 m3

77 mg

1.5 mL
2.0 mL

Density

1.5 g/mL

50 g

25 g/L

250 mg

1.0 mg mL

75 kg

55 L

4 kg/L

3.0 L

0.0025 g/ L

200L
200 L

290 g

50 g/L

75 mL

50 g

55 g/mL
200 L

4.0 mg/L

Answer Key
Mass

Volume

Density

25 g

40 mL

0.63 g/mL

280 kg

1.5 m3

187 kg/m3

77 mg

1.5 mL

51 mg/mL

3.0 g

2.0 mL

1.5 g/mL

50 g

2.0 L

25 g/L

250 mg

250 mL

1.0 mg mL

220 kg

55 L

4 kg/L

0.0075 g

3.0 L

0.0025 g/ L

75 kg

200L

0.38 kg/L

10 000 g

200 L

50 g/L

290 g

75 mL

3.9 g/mL

50 g

0.91 mL

55 g/mL

800 mg

200 L

4.0 mg/L

1500 kg

0.00038 m3

4 000 000 kg/m3

48 g

250 cm3

0.19 g/cm3

Density Activity; Its Dense!

You are going to determine the density of 6

different objects. (4 provided, 2 you provide)

Step 1: Find the mass of your object using the
electronic scale (in grams and to 2 decimal
places)
Step 2: We will be using water displacement to
calculate volume.
Submerge the object in a graduated cylinder filled

with water and note the volume change.

Volume of object = final volume after
displacement initial volume before displacement.
Step 3: Calculate density.

Construct the following table:

You must show all your calculations!
Object

Mass
(g)

Volume (mL) Density

(g/mL)

1. Bronze
coloured
cube

7.29 g

VI = 19 mL
VF = 20 mL
VF-VI = 20-19 = 1
mL

2.
3.
4.
5.
6.

D=M = 7.29g
V
1 mL
7.29 g/mL

Classification of Matter

Classification of Matter
Matter: Anything that has mass and takes

up space.
Mixture: Two or more substances mixed
together.
Pure Substance: A substance that contains
only one kind of matter.
Mechanical Mixture: A mixture
of two or more components that
can be seen with the unaided eye.

Solutions: A homogeneous mixture of

two or more substances.

Heterogeneous: Consisting of elements
that arent all the same (variability).
Homogeneous: Uniform (the same) throughout.
Precipitate: The formation of a solid in a
solution during a chemical reaction.