Density Determination

9/10/11
Introduction
In the density lab we had four main objectives to complete, they were:

1. Learn about intensive and extensive properties

2. Determine the density of regularly-shaped objects
3. Determine the density of irregularly-shaped objects
4. Determine the density of distilled or deionized water

In order to find the density of an object whether it is regular or irregularly shaped you must first know its
mass and volume. (Density= Mass of object/ volume of object) Mass and volume of an object are
considered extensive properties because they depend on the quantity of an object. The density however
is considered an intensive property because unlike mass and volume, it does not depend on the
quantity. The basic units that density it reported in are: g/ml org/cm^3 at 20C. In density the
temperature must be recorded because volume changes in different temperatures, so the density
calculation is effected as well. Density of a substance remains the same at constant temperatures;
because of this we can identify different substances on their density. The table below shows some
density values for various substances we used in this experiment.

Densities of various substances at 20C

Substance Density (g/cm)
Steel 7.9
Aluminum 2.7
Brass 8.4-8.8
PVC 1.39-1.42
Copper 8.96
Oak 0.60-0.90
Pine 0.35-0.50
Acrylic 1.1-1.2
Polypropylene 0.91-0.94
Water 1.0
In this lab the density for regularly-shaped, irregularly-shaped objects and ionized and
deionized water will be calculated by measuring both volume and mass for each object and
sample.

Procedure

In determining the density for both the objects and the water we have a certain procedure to
follow:

A. Determine the density of the regularly-shaped object.

1. Obtain one of the solid blocks that were provided in the lab and record its code
number onto our data sheets.
2. Using a metric ruler (Figure 5), we were to measure the length, height and width of
the block and record our measurements. By multiplying the length, width and the
height of the block together we can calculate the volume of the cube.
(Volume=L x W x H)
3. Determine the mass of the block to the nearest 0.01g by using the top loading
balance (Figure 2).
4. Calculate the density of the block by using the equation: (Density=Mass/Volume).
Once you have calculated the density record your answer on your data sheet.
5. Once you have your density calculated you may do the experiment twice to check
your answer and determine your average density value. Our professor said to only
do it once.
6. Once you know the density, compare your findings to the density table to determine
the substance of your cube and record your answer on your data sheet.

B. Determine the density of an irregularly-shaped object.

When determining the density of an irregularly-shaped object, you cannot use the
volume equation because it is not easily measured. For this part of the experiment
we used water displacement method to determine the volume of the irregularly-
shaped object.
s

1. Obtain a sample of an unknown metal found in the Styrofoam cups in your lab, and
record its number onto your data sheet.
2. Obtain approximately 5 grams of the unknown metal; you can use the top-loading
balance (Figure 2) to approximate your mass. Once you have gotten as close to 5
grams as you could record the value to the nearest 0.01 g on your data sheet.
3. Obtain a 10-ml graduated cylinder (Figure 4) and fill it about halfway with water.
Once properly measured record its initial volume to the nearest 0.01 ml onto your
data sheet.
4. Place the metal sample that you retrieved from the Styrofoam cup into the
graduated cylinder that contains water. To remove air bubbles that will affect your
calculations just simply tap on the sides of the graduated cylinder lightly.
5. Measure the final volume of the water to the nearest 0.01 ml and record it to the
nearest 0.01 ml onto the data sheet.
6. To determine the volume of the metal you must figure out the difference between
the initial and final volumes of water, assuming that water does not react with
metal. To determine the difference in water volumes you must subtract the initial
volume from the final volume and record the metal sample volume onto the data
sheet.
7. Once you have determined the density of the metal sample, compare it to the
densities of various substance table to determine the identity of your substance.

C. Determine the Density of Water

1. Obtain and dry 50 ml or 100 ml beaker (Figure 6) and label it beaker 1. Weigh the
beaker and record its mass to the nearest 0.01 g onto the data sheet.
2. Then transfer 30 ml of some distilled or deionized water into a clean beaker and
label it beaker 2. Using a thermometer (Figure 3), measure the temperature of the
water and record your findings on your data sheet.
 3. Transfer 10.00 ml of the water to the pre-weighed beaker you labeled beaker 1. For
accurate measuring you should be using a 10-ml volumetric pipet (Figure 1), making
sure there are no air bubbles. If you notice air bubbles in the pipet just gently tap on
the side of it and refill the volumetric pipet to the line that corresponds to the 10.00
ml mark.
4. Weight beaker 1 with the 10 ml of distilled or deionized water and record its mass to
the nearest 0.01 g onto your data sheet.
5. Calculate the mass of the water by subtracting the mass of the empty beaker from
the mass of the beaker containing the water. Record the calculated mass of the
distilled water onto your data sheet.
6. Calculate the density of the water by dividing the mass of the water by its volume
and record your calculations onto the datasheet.
7. Once you have the density of the water at a temperature you previously recorded.
Compare your measurement of water density to 1.0 g/ml which is the value of water
according to your lab book.

Equipment used in experiment

Here are some pictures of the equipment needed for this experiment:

Figure 1 Figure 3

Figure 2
Figure 4
 Figure 5 Figure 6

Equations used in this experiment

Volume =

Length x Width x Height

Density =

Data and Calculations

This is an accumulation of data and calculations that were recorded on the data sheet during
the experiment.

A.
Unknown Code
Density of a regular-shaped object Number: 2__

Determination
Length 2.5 cm
Width 2.5 cm
Height 2.5cm
Volume 15.6 cm
Mass 10.19 g
Density 0.65 g/cm
Identity of unknown
regularly shaped object Oak
 Calculations for regular-shaped object:

V=LxWxH

2.5cm x 2.5cm x 2.5cm= 15.625cm

D=M/V

10.19 g/15.6cm=0.65 g/cm

B. Unknown code
Density of an Irregularly-Shaped Object number: 1

Mass of Metal Sample 4.98 g

Initial volume of water 8 ml
Final volume of water 8.7 ml
Volume of metal .7 ml
Density of metal 7.1 g/ml
Identity of unknown irregularly-shaped STEEL
object

Calculations for irregular-shaped object:

V of metal= final volume of water initial volume of water

8.7ml -8ml= 0.7ml

D=M/V

4.98 g/0.7ml=7.114 g/ml= 7.1 g/ml

 C.
Density of Distilled Water

Mass of 50-ml beaker 1 48.77g

Temperature of water 21C
Mass of beaker 1 + water 58.8g
Mass of water 10.3 g
Volume of water 10.00 ml
Density of water 1.003 g/ml
Density of water reported in lab book 1.0 g/ml

Calculations for density of distilled water:

Mass= 58.8g- 48.77g= 10.3 g

D=M/V

10.3g/10.00ml= 1.003 g/ml

Results and Discussion

I determined the density of the block to be .65 g/cm, based on this information the
identity of the unknown regularly-shaped object is Oak.
I determined the density of the irregularly-shaped object to be 7.1 g/ml, based on this
information the identity of this object is Steel.
I determined the density of distilled water to be 1.003 g/ml; I find my calculations true
based on the density of the water reported in the literature of being 1.0 g/ml.

Based on the density of substances at 20C, I find my calculations to be true. I believe that the
identities of my objects are valid because they correspond with the density constants. Possible
errors in this experiment could include temperature. We measured the temperature of the
room at 21C, but the density table shows constants at 20C.
Other errors that could affect the density include:

Measuring with the pipet if there were air bubbles it would lower the density because
the mass of the measured volume would be lower.
Using a dirty pipet in measuring, the result would have a higher density because the
volume would be higher than it should be.
And rushing through the experiment and not measuring everything exact.

I observed in this experiment that if not all measurements of volume and mass are not
valid than it effects the density, making it harder to identify the unknown substance.

Post Lab Questions

1. A lab technician has a volumetric pipet calibrated to deliver exactly 25.0 ml of liquid. He
then measures the mass of the liquid to determine the density of the liquid. How will
the density determination be affected by the following situations described below?
Would the calculated density be higher, lower, or unaffected? Explain your answers.

a. A lab technician did not remove air bubbles from the pipet before delivering
the liquid.
The calculated density would be lower than if he didnt have bubbles. If the
measurement of volume was less than it should have been because of the
bubbles, than consequently the mass would be less. The volume would not be
affected because of the 10 ml constant in our experiment. If that constant was
not in affect than volume being lower with a lower mass would result in a higher
density.
b. A student used a dirty pipet that had water droplets adhered to the inner walls
of the pipet.
The result would have a higher density because the volume is higher than it
should have been. Messing up calculations later in the experiment.

c. The student did not wait long enough to allow the liquid to empty from the
pipet.
The calculated density would be lower because the volume is less than he
expected it to be. Taking measurements of the mass from the volume amount
would make the mass lower as well. Causing the lower density.
2. Do you expect that two objects with the same amount of mass but different density
values would have the same volume? Explain your answer.
No, they would not have the same volumes. If two objects have the same mass but
different volumes than their density values would be different because, Density
depends on mass/volume. If two objects had the same mass and volume, than their
density would be the same.

3. Determine the density of a regularly shaped object that has a mass 56.88g and the
following dimensions: length = 3.65cm, width= 8.97cm and height= 6.35cm.
Using the equation D=M/V and V=L*w*h
V=3.65x8.97x6.35 = 207.9cm
D= 56.88g/207.9cm = 0.2736g/cm Density= 0.274g/cm