Expe rimen tal De nsity Objective

During this laboratory activity you will learn how to use a balance and read a graduated cylinder, and using them, make measurements that you will then use to calculate the density of two liquids and two solids.

Discussion
Density is that physical property that determines whether one substance (a solid for example) will float or sink in another substance (water for example). To do this kind of experiment, we cannot have one substance forming a homogeneous mixture with the second substance, so we will choose a metal and water, so that they wont mix. Rocks have higher density values than water, and so rocks sink to the bottom and the water floats on top. Oil and cork have lower density values than water, and so both float on water. In salad dressing, the oil floats on top of the vinegar, and the vinegar is about 95% water, so its density is very close to that of pure water; therefore, oil also floats on vinegar. The mathematical formula for density is: Density = mass volume or D= m V

In this experiment you will calculate the experimental density of two known substances (water and a piece of zinc metal) by measuring the mass of each, and then the volume of each, and finally you put those numbers into the formula to find the density. You will then find out how correct your answers are, by comparing the known densities that have been determined by experienced scientists, to your answers. You will use the % error formula for this comparison. Percent Error =
correct value - experimental value x 100 correct value

The vertical bars in the formula mean absolute value, which means that when you subtract the experimental value from the correct value, you must make the sign of that answer positive (even if the calculator says it is negative)!

Procedure
You will need both of the formulas in the discussion to complete your density experiment so you need to write them into your pre-lab. For each measurement, write down the full number (including the estimated digit) along with the unit. When using the balance, even if the last digit is zero, write every digit off of the balance. You should never round a direct measurement. The only time that you round numbers is at the end of a calculation, when you are trying to figure out the correct number of significant figures (for multiplication and division) or the correct decimal place (for addition and subtraction). Measure the mass of the dry 10 mL graduated cylinder. Record all of the numbers off of the balance. In all experiments, you should use the same balance for the whole lab period. This reduces errors. If you switch balances, you should start the experiment over. Next, fill the graduated cylinder with distilled water from the water bottles on the lab benches. Try to fill the graduated cylinder so that the bottom of the mensicus is on the 10 line but not above the 10 line. Since there are no lines above the 10 line, any volume over 10 cannot be measured accurately. Measure the volume of water as carefully as you can, to the correct estimated digit. Then, place the filled graduated cylinder on the balance and weigh the mass of the water and the graduated cylinder together. Finally, measure the temperature of the water. Again, measure the temperature to the estimated digit. Record all of these measurements into your data table in your lab notebook. Find the Net Mass of Liquid by subtracting the graduated cylinder mass from the mass of the graduated cylinder plus the water, combined. Next, you will calculate the density of the water by dividing the mass of the water by the volume of the water. This answer is called your Experimental Density. The Theoretical Density of Water is the same as the Correct Density of water. Using the temperature that you measured, find the Correct Density of water from the table below. (If you want to photocopy just the Correct Value tables from this procedure and tape them into your lab notebook, you may do that (but remember that the steps of this procedure must be hand-written).

Temperature Correct Density of Water (C) (g/mL) 18.0 0.9986 19.0 0.9984 20.0 0.9982 21.0 0.9980 22.0 0.9978 23.0 0.9976 24.0 0.9976

Calculate the % error between your experimental density (the one that you calculated from the measurements you took in lab), and the correct density (the one calculated from the measurements that experienced scientists took in lab). The % error value should be less than or equal to 5.00% for you to move on to the next part of the experiment. If your % error is greater than 5.00 %, you should see the professor to find out how to improve your measuring techniques. Repeat the same procedure described above for another liquid sample, the unknown liquid. Assume that the 10 mL graduated cylinder mass that you recorded for the first experiment, is the same for this experiment, unless you have changed graduated cylinders or changed balances. For this part of the experiment, you do not have to measure the temperature, or calculate the % error. The idea is that once you have figured out a good measuring technique for the water, your next experiment should also be done equally well. The professor will check this when your lab report is graded. The next two experiments are to determine the density of a solid metal. The known metal is zinc. Zinc has a Theoretical Density (the same as the Correct Density) equal to 7.14 g/mL. Obtain one zinc bar for this experiment. Carefully place the metal on the balance and weigh it, and record the mass of the zinc bar into your lab notebook. Next, obtain a plastic 100 mL graduated cylinder and fill it about 70 mL full of tap water. Hold the metal bar against the graduated cylinder, and make sure that if you put the metal into the tap water, the metal would be entirely covered. Measure the volume of the tap water (Initial Volume) as well as you can, including the estimated digit. Then place the metal into the water, and again read the level of the water in the graduated cylinder (Final Volume). The Net volume of the Water is really the change in the volume of the water, so subtract the initial volume of water from the final volume of the water. The volume of the solid is equal to the change in the volume of the water. Calculate the Experimental Density of the solid. Calculate the Percent Error of the zinc density experiment. Repeat the same procedure described above for another solid sample, the unknown solid. Look at the end of the cylinder of the unknown solid and record its unknown number. Follow the procedure above. For this part of the experiment, you do not have to calculate the % error, but try to identify the unknown by comparing your experimental density to the correct density in the table below. The Unknown Metal Correct Density Could Be: (g/mL) Aluminum 2.70 Titanium 4.51 Steel 7.63 Iron 7.86 Brass 8.1 Copper 8.96 Lead 11.4