Title: Experiment 1B

Measuring specific gravity of a liquid by using hydrometer method.

Objective:s
To determine specific gravity of a liquid using hydrometer method.

Apparatus:
Hydrometer, glass cylinders and liquid.

Theory:
Specific gravity or relative is the ratio of the density of the fluid to the
density of water. Specific gravity can be determined directly from the
density of a liquid as measured divided by density water. A convenient
alternative directly method is to use a specially calibrated instrument
called hydrometer. Hydrometer is hallows glass float designed to float
upright in liquids of various densities. The depth to which it sinks in the
liquid is a measure of the density of the liquid. A scale is provided on its
stem which is calibrated to read specific gravity. The sensitivity of the
hydrometer depends on the diameter of the stem. A very sensitive
hydrometer has a large bulb and a thin stem.

Procedure
i.
ii.
iii.

iv.
v.
vi.
vii.
viii.

A tall glass cylinder was placed on a flat working surface.

A liquid was filled in it and air was allowed to rise to the top.
The hydrometer was carefully inserted and was allowed to settle in
the centre of the cylinder. The hydrometer must not be touch with
the sides of cylinder to prevent errors.
The scale of the hydrometer has been read after it had settled as
the bottom of the free water surface.
The reading was recorded and the hydrometer was gently taken out.
Step 3 to 5 was repeated three times.
The above procedure was followed with using other liquid.
The specific gravities of given liquids were compared.

Observation
S.No

Name of liquid (Stem reading)

Water

Oil

Syrup

1.000

0.91

1.005

1.000

0.91

1.005

3
Av.S
G

1.000

0.91

1.005

1.000

0.91

1.005

Discussion
There are four method to measure the specific gravity of a liquid such
as by using measuring beaker, eureka can, density bottle and
hydrometer method.
Based on the result, each method shows different result. The most
accurate method to get the specific gravity of liquid is by using
hydrometer, followed by eureka can, then measuring by using beaker
and lastly by using density bottle.
There might be an error during conducting the experiment. The result
may varies because of an improper handling of apparatus during the
experiment.
The objectives are reached, specific gravity can be calculated by using
any of these method but the most accurate method is by using
hydrometer.

Question
a. Reasons for different methods giving different result are because of
the accuracy of the different apparatus that were use in the
experiment.
b. A narrow deep type of eureka can gives us an accurate results.
c. The specific gravity of mercury is not the same on the moon
compared on the earth.
d. The hydrometer sinks more in the lighter liquid than the heavier
ones because lighter liquid is less dense than heavier liquids.
e. It is easy to swim in sea water than swimming pools because the
sea water is less dense than the water in the swimming pools.

Conclusion
Different methods of determining the specific gravity gives out the
different accuracy of the results.