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Density

The CHM 130LL Density lab focuses on measuring the density of various substances, including a cylindrical metal slug, an unknown liquid, and a rubber stopper, through specific calculations and procedures. Students will utilize calipers and graduated cylinders to obtain accurate measurements and apply the density formula to identify unknown materials. The lab emphasizes the importance of density in characterizing substances and includes detailed steps for conducting experiments and recording results.

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0% found this document useful (0 votes)
6 views6 pages

Density

The CHM 130LL Density lab focuses on measuring the density of various substances, including a cylindrical metal slug, an unknown liquid, and a rubber stopper, through specific calculations and procedures. Students will utilize calipers and graduated cylinders to obtain accurate measurements and apply the density formula to identify unknown materials. The lab emphasizes the importance of density in characterizing substances and includes detailed steps for conducting experiments and recording results.

Uploaded by

aaltamira26
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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CHM 130LL: Density

Objectives
In this experiment you will:
 Measure the dimensions of a cylindrical solid “slug” of an unknown metal to calculate its density
and identify the metal.
 Measure the mass and volume of an unknown liquid to calculate its density.
 Measure the mass and volume of a rubber stopper to calculate its density.
 Perform various density calculations.

Introduction
We commonly use the terms “heavy” and “light” to describe various objects. For example, a thick
textbook might be considered “heavy as a rock” while a fine silk camisole might be considered “light as a
feather.” These terms, “heavy” and “light”, actually convey the relative density of a substance.
Objects that are heavy have more mass concentrated in a given amount of space. For example, in the
opening sequence of Raiders of the Lost Ark, Indiana Jones tries to replace a gold statue with a bag of
sand of about the same volume. Even though the volumes may be the same, gold is much more dense than
sand. As Indiana Jones found out, ignoring density and only considering volume can have dire
consequences!
Mathematically, density is defined as a substance’s mass-to-volume ratio:
mass
density 
volume
For liquids and solids, mass is reported in grams, and volume is reported in milliliters (mL) or cubic
centimeters (cm3), so density is reported in units of grams per milliliter (g/mL) or grams per cubic
centimeter (g/cm3) — these are equivalent since 1 mL is exactly equal to 1 cm3.
A substance’s density will be the same regardless of the size of a sample. For example, steel has a density
of 7.85 g/cm3 whether you have a tiny steel ball bearing or a large steel beam. Similarly, ice has a density
of 0.92 g/ cm3 whether you have an ice cube or a glacier. Thus, we can use density to identify an unknown
substance.
Calipers are often used to obtain a better measurement of length for small objects. They also may be used
where a ruler would be awkward (e.g. for inside or outside diameters).

Caliper Directions
1. Make sure the caliper jaws are closed. Roll the wheel on the bottom if needed to close the jaws.
2. Turn the calipers on by pressing the mm/in button. (If the display does not come on, the battery must
be replaced. Bring your calipers to your instructor for a replacement battery.)
3. Press the “0” button to zero the display. The display should now read 0.00 mm, not in.
4. Roll the wheel on the bottom to open the caliper jaws and insert the metal slug so that it fits between
the ends of the jaws. Move the round knob to lock the object while the measurement is taken.
GCC CHM 130LL: Density GCC, Spring 2016 page 1 of 6
5. Record the measurement shown in the digital display in mm.
6. The calipers will turn off automatically.
Graduated cylinders are used to contain and deliver measured amounts of liquid. They are available in
many sizes. You will use the 10 mL and 100 mL sizes. The 10-mL graduated cylinders are always read to
2 decimal places (e.g. 5.50 mL) and the 100-mL graduated cylinders are always read to 1 decimal place
(e.g. 50.5 mL).
4
 When water is placed in a glass cylinder, a concave surface forms;
this curve is called the meniscus. Glass graduated cylinders are
manufactured so that the line at the bottom of the meniscus gives the
most accurate reading. In order to read any graduated cylinder 3
accurately, it must be level (sitting on the counter, NOT hand-held).
Your eye must also be perpendicular to the water level.
2.77 mL
 The 10-mL graduated cylinder above is read to two decimal places
(to the nearest 0.01 mL). Thus, the volume of liquid is read to be 2
2.77 mL.
 Note that 100-mL graduated cylinders have markings for each mL,
so they are read to one decimal place (to the nearest 0.1 mL).
Procedure
A. Density of a Cylindrical Metal “Slug”
1. Record the unknown number for your slug. Place it upright near the center of the balance pan, and
weigh it. Record all the numbers, as displayed by the balance. NEVER round the mass reported
on an electronic balance! Write down all the numbers always.
2. Use calipers to measure the metal slug. (Refer to the caliper directions in the introduction.)
Always re-zero your calipers before taking a measurement. Carefully measure and record the
diameter and the height of your slug in mm.
3. Convert your measurements from mm to cm (given: 10mm = 1 cm)
4. To calculate the volume in cubic centimeters (cc or cm3), use the formula for the volume of a
cylinder, V = r2h, where h = height,  = 3.1416 and r = radius. The radius is one half of the
1
diameter: radius =  diameter. Note the 2 is an exact number when dividing by 2.
2
m
5. Calculate the density in grams per cubic centimeter (g/cm3) using the formula for density, d  ,
V
where d=density, m=mass, and V=volume.
B. Density of an Unknown Liquid
For your unknown liquid, obtain measurements of volume and corresponding mass by following the
directions below. Include the appropriate units for all your measurements.
Note: Never add liquid to a container while it is on the balance because liquids can damage the
balances!
1. Record the unknown number for the unknown liquid at your station.
2. Weigh an empty, dry 10 mL graduated cylinder, and record the complete mass.
3. Remove the graduated cylinder from the balance. Use your unknown dropper bottle at your station
to transfer about 2 mL of your liquid into the graduated cylinder.
GCC CHM 130LL: Density GCC, Spring 2016 page 2 of 6
4. Now read and record the volume of liquid in the graduated cylinder (to 2 decimal places) in
the table under the Trial 1 column.
5. Do you have the volume recorded? If not go one step back. Now place the graduated cylinder on
the balance, and record the complete mass of the graduated cylinder with the liquid under Trial 1.
6. Remove the graduated cylinder from the balance. Add about 2 mL more of the liquid to the
amount already present. Read and record the new (total) volume of liquid in the graduated
cylinder under Trial #2.
7. Reweigh the graduated cylinder with the new level of liquid, and record the complete mass under
Trial 2.
8. Repeat steps 6 and 7 two more times for Trials 3 and 4.
9. Calculate the mass of liquid for each trial using the formula below:
Mass of liquid = “Mass of grad. cylinder + liquid” – “Mass of empty grad. Cylinder”
m
10. Calculate and record the density for each trial using d  . Make sure to give the correct units
V
and the correct number of significant figures for your density values.
11. Calculate and record the average density for your sample with the correct units.
Waste disposal: Pour your unknown liquid down the sink and clean the graduated cylinder.

C. Density of a Rubber Stopper using Volume by Displacement


The volume of a solid object with an irregular shape can be determined using the “volume by
displacement” method. If a solid object has a density greater than a liquid like water, the object will
displace the liquid, causing the level of the liquid to rise by the amount equal to the object’s volume.
Thus, the volume of the object is equal to the change in level of the liquid.
1. Weigh a dry rubber stopper, and record the mass.
2. Place about 40-50 mL of tap water into a 100-mL graduated cylinder. Record the exact volume to
1 decimal place.
3. Tilt the graduated cylinder, and slowly lower the rubber stopper into the liquid, so none of the
liquid splashes out. Record the new volume of water to 1 decimal place.
4. Calculate the volume of the rubber stopper.
5. Calculate and record the density (in g/mL) for the stopper.
D. Calculations
Perform the calculations showing all your work, each step. Remember if the density is given, you can use
it as a conversion factor to convert between mass and volume. Note that density can be given in units of
g/mL or g/cm3 since they are the same (1 mL = 1 cm3).

Example: The density of lead is 11.4 g/mL. How much does a 575 mL sample of lead mass in grams?
11.4 𝑔
575 mL ( 1 𝑚𝐿 ) = 6560 g
Example: The density of lead is 11.4 g/mL. How many mL is a 46.2 g sample of lead?
1 𝑚𝐿
46.2 g (11.4 𝑔) = 4.05 mL

GCC CHM 130LL: Density GCC, Spring 2016 page 3 of 6


CHM 130LL: Name: ________________________
Density Lab Report Work alone this week!
Section Number: _______________

A. Density of a Cylindrical Metal “Slug”

Unknown Slug Number: ____________

Mass = ________________ g

Height = ________________ mm = ________________ cm


Show the conversion for mm to cm for height using 1 cm = 10 mm:

Diameter = ________________ mm = ________________ cm

Radius = ________________ mm = ________________ cm

Show the set-up to calculate the volume of the cylindrical slug using the formula for volume as V = r2h,
where h = height,  = 3.1416 and r = radius. Give radius and height in cm for this calculation.

Volume of metal slug: _________________


Show the set-up to calculate the density below:

Density of metal Slug: ________________


Compare the average density of your slug to the densities of common substances below:

Substance Density (g/cm3) Substance Density (g/cm3)


Gold 19.3 Titanium 4.51
Lead 11.4 Aluminum 2.70
Silver 10.5 Magnesium 1.74
Steel 7.85 Water (at 4˚C) 1.00
Brass 8.55 Ice (0˚C) 0.92
Copper 8.96 Air 0.0012
The metal used for the unknown slugs can be identified because its density will match one of the densities
provided above.

Identify the substance of your unknown slug: _______________

Explain your choice:

GCC CHM 130LL: Density GCC, Spring 2016 page 4 of 6


B. Density of an “Unknown” Liquid (include units for ALL measurements)

Unknown Number: ____________ Mass of the empty graduated cylinder _________________

Trial 1 Trial 2 Trial 3 Trial 4

Volume of liquid

Mass of grad. cylinder +


liquid

Mass of liquid

Density of liquid

Show density calculations for each trial below:

Trial 1: Trial 2:

Trial 3: Trial 4:

Show the calculation for the average density below:

Average density of the unknown liquid: _________________________

C. Density of a Rubber Stopper using Volume by Displacement

Mass of rubber stopper: ________________ g

Volume of water in graduated cylinder: ________________ mL

Volume of water + stopper in graduated cylinder: ________________ mL

Volume of rubber stopper: ________________ mL

Show the calculation for the density of the rubber stopper below:

Density of rubber stopper = _____________________

GCC CHM 130LL: Density GCC, Spring 2016 page 5 of 6


D. Calculations. Show your work.

1. Calculate the density of a piece of solid gold if the gold weighs 82.5 g and has a volume of 4.30 mL.

2. Calculate the density of lotion if the contents of a bottle of 650 mL weighs 1170 grams.

3. The density of ethanol is 0.789 g/mL. How much will 1250 mL of ethanol mass in grams?

4. The density of mercury is 13.6 g/mL. What is the volume of 72 grams of mercury?

5. The density of silver is 10.5 g/cm3. If a pure silver coin has a volume of 45 cm3, what is its mass?

6. The density of chloroform is 1.483 g/mL. What is the mass of 1.250 L of chloroform?

7. The density of aluminum is 2.70 g/cm3. What is the volume of 8850 mg of aluminum?

8. The density of copper is 8.96 g/cm3. What is the volume of a copper ring that masses 103.5428
grams?

GCC CHM 130LL: Density GCC, Spring 2016 page 6 of 6

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