Experiment 4

Chris Sullivan
October 1, 2015
Period 4
Michael Clements

The Density of Solids and Liquids

OBJECTIVE:
1. To determine the density of various solids and liquids.
2. To determine the density of an object using Archimedes' principle
3. To determine the thickness of aluminum foil.
PROCEDURE: See electronic version.
DATA:
Table I Density of a Regular Solid
Substance
Mass of the object
Length of the object
Width of the object
Depth of object
Volume of the object
Density of the object
Theoretical value
Percentage error

Aluminum
21.357g
5.00cm
1.25cm
1.25cm
7.81cm3
2.73g/cm3
2.70g/cm3
1.11%

Observations: The corners of the rectangular solid are very slightly rounded off.

Table II Density of an Irregular Solid

Name of substance
Mass of the substance
Initial volume of water
Final volume of water
Volume of water displaced
Volume of substance
Density of the substance
Theoretical value
Percentage error

Sample 1
Aluminum cylinder
18.182g
10.50mL
17.00mL
6.50mL
6.50cm3
2.80g/cm3
2.70g/cm3
3.70%

Sample 2
Aluminum shot
13.645g
10.02mL
15.50mL
4.98mL
4.98cm3
2.74g/cm3
2.70g/cm3
2.50%

Observations: There is a small number of bubbles in the test tube as the volume of each irregular object is
measured.

Table III Density of Liquids

Name of liquid
Mass of graduated cylinder
Mass of cylinder and liquid
Mass of liquid
Volume of liquid
Density of Liquid
Theoretical value
Percentage error

Dawn Detergent
25.332g
32.120g
6.788g
6.67mL
1.02g/mL
1.06g/mL
4%

Water
25.332g
34.652g
9.320g
9.25mL
1.01g/mL
1.00g/mL
1%

Observations: There is a fair number of bubbles in the dawn detergent, and a thin film of soap on the
inside of the graduated cylinder above the line.

Table IV Volume (and Density) of a Solid by Archimedes Principle

Mass of the object in air
87.867g
Mass of the object submerged in water
55.674g
Mass of the water displaced by the object
32.193g
Density of water
1.0000g/mL
Volume of the water displaced by the object
32.193mL
Volume of the object
32.193cm3
Density of the object
2.7294g/cm3
Theoretical Value
2.70g/cm3
Percentage error
1.09%
Table V Thickness of Aluminum Foil
Mass of aluminum foil
Length of foil
Width of foil
Density of aluminum
Volume of aluminum
Area of aluminum foil
Thickness (calculated)
Thickness (micrometer)
Percentage error

3.749g
24.45cm
30.21cm
2.70g/cm3
1.16cm3
738.6cm2
0.00188cm
0.002cm
6%

Observations: The corners of the tin foil are not perfectly cut and the edges are not perfectly straight.

CALCULATIONS:
|experimental value theoretical value|
x 100 = Percent
Theoretical value
error
|2.73g/mL 2.70g/mL|
x 100 = 1.11%
2.70g/mL
|2.80g/cm3 2.70g/cm3|
x 100% = 3.70%
2.70g/cm3
|2.74g/cm3 2.70g/cm3|
x 100% = 2.50%
2.70g/cm3

|1.02g/mL 1.06g/mL|
x 100% = 4%
1.06g/mL
|1.01g/mL 1.00g/mL|
x 100% = 1%
1.00g/mL
|2.7294g/cm3 2.70g/cm3|
x 100% = 1.09%
2.70g/cm3
|0.00188cm 0.002cm|
x 100% = 6%
0.002cm
Density = mass/volume
21.357g/7.81cm3 = 2.73 g/cm3
18.182g/6.50cm3 = 2.80 g/cm3
13.645g/4.98cm3 = 2.74 g/cm3
6.788g/6.67mL =1.02g/mL
9.320g/9.50cm3 = 1.01g/mL
Mass (in air) mass (in water) = mass of water displaced
87.867g 55.674g = 32.193g
Volume of displaced water = volume of the object = m/D of water displaced
32.193g / 1.0000g/mL = 32.193mL = 32.193cm3
Density = mass of the object (in air)/volume of the object
87.867g / 32.193cm3 = 2.7294g/cm3
CONCLUSION: The density of a regular solid of aluminum was calculated to be 2.73g/cm3,
however experimental error was caused by the corners of the regular solid being slightly
rounded, which affected the measurements and contributed to the percent error of 1.11%. The
density of an aluminum cylinder was calculated to be 2.80g/cm3 and the density of aluminum
shot was calculated to be 2.74g/cm3 while making measurements of volume for both of these
there was a small amount of bubbles which is a source of experimental error, contributing to the
respective percent errors of 3.70% and 2.50%. The density of dawn detergent was found to be
1.06g/mL in the experiment, which has a 4% error as a result of experimental error including
bubbles in the soap and a thin layer of soap above the surface of the measured detergent. The
density of water was calculated to be 1.01g/mL, which has a percent error of 1%. All of the
aforementioned error percentages also may have been caused by the precision of the measuring
devices used in this experiment. Using Archimedes Principle the density of an aluminum solid
was calculated to be 2.7294g/cm3. This had a percent error of 1.09% due to the experimental
error caused by the precision of the balance used. The calculated thickness of aluminum foil was
calculated to be 0.00188cm, whereas the thickness was found to be 0.002cm when measured
with a micrometer. This created a percent error of 6%. The percent error was caused by
experimental error such as the precision of the micrometer and the difficulty to obtain a perfectly
rectangular piece of aluminum foil with the accessible measuring tools.

QUESTIONS:
1. Define density.
Density is a measurement of the amount of matter that is contained within a specific
volume of a substance.
2. What are the common density units in the metric system that are used for solids? Liquids?
Gases?
The density of solids is commonly put in the form of g/cm3 in the metric system. Liquids
often have their densities calculated as g/mL. Densities of gases are usually calculated as
g/L.
3. What is meant by the term specific gravity? How can one get a density value for a substance if
its specific gravity is known?
The specific gravity of a substance is a comparison between the density of that substance
and the density of water. The density of water is 1.00g/mL. Therefore, the density value
of a substance can be found if the specific gravity is known, simply by multiplying the
specific gravity by 1.00g/mL
4. Does temperature affect the density of a substance? Explain your answer. Would a higher or
lower temperature make a difference if one were to determine the density of a solid or liquid as
opposed to a gas? Explain.
If temperature increases, molecules within substances move faster and bump into each
other, resulting in the molecules spreading apart, this makes the substance less dense. As
temperature decreases, the molecules slow down, causing the molecules to become more
compact, which makes the density rise. Therefore temperature can affect the density of a
substance. Density change as a result of temperature change is less significant in solids
and liquids as opposed to a gas, which would have a more significant change to density
with an equal temperature change.
5. If two substances have the same density, are they the same substance? Explain.
Two substances may have the same density without being the same substance. Density is
just a physical property, but in order to be the same substance they must have the same
chemical makeup rather than just some physical properties in common.
6. List the sources of error for each procedure. For each error explain how one could go about
getting a more precise value.
Procedure 1- The regular object was slightly rounded at the corners and the centimeter
ruler had a precision of +/- 0.02cm while the laboratory balance had a precision of +/0.001g. A more precise value could have been obtained by using more precise measuring
devices and by using a displacement technique such as Archimedes Principle.
Procedure 3- There was a small amount of bubbles when measuring the volumes of the
water with each irregular solid, the 25mL graduated cylinder had a precision of +/0.2mL, and the laboratory balance had a precision of +/- 0.001g. A more precise value
could have been obtained by using a more precise measuring device and waiting for the
few bubbles to disappear.
Procedure 4- The laboratory balance had a precision of +/- 0.001g and the 10mL
graduated cylinder had a precision of +/- 0.01mL. When measuring the detergent there
was a fair number of bubbles as well as a thin coat of detergent above the surface of the

detergent which was used to measure the volume. A more precise value could have been
obtained by using more precise measuring devices. For the detergent a more precise value
could have been obtained by letting the detergent sit for longer so that the bubbles could
have disappeared and the detergent on the side of the graduated cylinder could have all
settled to the bottom.
Procedure 5- The electronic balance had a precision of 0.001g. A more precise value
could have been obtained by using a more precise balance.
Procedure 7- The meter stick used had a precision of +/- 0.02cm and the laboratory
balance had a precision of +/- 0.001g. The aluminum foil also did not have perfectly
straight sides and perfect right angles. A more precise value could have been obtained by
using devices with more precision and by using protractors to make the angles as close to
right angles as possible.

7. The density of dysprosium is 8.550 g/cm3. If a student experimentally determines the density
of a sample of dysprosium to be 8.13 g/cm3, what would be the % error for this determination?
Show all of your work.
|8.550g/cm3 8.13g/cm3|
x 100% = 4.9%
8.550g/cm3
8. Explain how one could use Archimedes principle to determine the density of an unknown
solution.
By using a solid with a known mass and volume (and therefore density), Archimedes
Principle can be used to calculate the density of an unknown solution by substituting the
water with the unknown solution. The mass of the solution displaced can be found using
the balance and the known solid, and by using dimensional analysis, the volume of the
solution displaced can be calculated by using the known volume of the solid. This
provides a mass and volume to be used to calculate the density of the unknown solution.
9. For each of the following situations tell whether the calculated density would be higher, lower,
or the same as when the density was calculated in your experiment: a) some water splashed out
of the cylinder when the volume of the irregular solid was determined, b) the room temperature
was exceptionally warm on the day that the density of a regular solid was to be determined, and
c) the regular solid was dented from heavy use and as a result the length of one of the sides was
measured too short. Explain.
A) The calculated density would be higher because the measured volume of the irregular
solid would be lower.
B) The calculated density would be lower because the rise in temperature would increase
the measured volume.
C) The calculated density would be higher because the shorter measurement of one side
would decrease the calculated volume, and therefore increase the calculated density.