Experiment No.

1
Liquid Density

I. Objective
To determine accurately the density of liquid using pycnometer.

II. Theory and Principles

Density is an elementary physical property of matter. It is defined as the ratio of the

mass of a body to it’s volume.

In this experiment, pycnometer was used in determining the density of liquids. When the
liquid is placed in a pycnometer, the volume of the liquid which will overflow is equal to the
volume of liquid. The mass of the liquid which will overflow is determined as the difference
between the sum of the mass of the pycnometer filled with liquid has been placed inside. The
volume occupied by this mass is determined from the known density of the given liquid. Thus if
the density is given at t°C, the volume displaced by the water in the pycnometer at the
temperature is given by;

Density is defined as the ratio of the mass of a body to its volume. In the experiment,
the mass of a liquid is predetermined by weighing. When the liquid is placed in a pycnometer,
the volume of the liquid which will overflow is equal to the volume of the liquid. The mass of the
liquid which will overflow is determined as the difference between the sum of the mass of the
pycnometer filled with liquid has been placed inside. The volume occupied by this mass is
determined from the known density of the given liquid.

Volume displaced by water in pycnometer = weight of the water____ (Eqn, 1)

o
Density of water @ 20 C

To solve for the density of the liquid unknowns, the ratio off the weight of the unknown
liquids and the volume displaced by water in the pycnometer must be obtained as shown in the
equation below:
 Density of unknown liquid = Weight of the Unknown Liquid____ (Eqn,2)
Volume displaced by water in pycnometer

III. Materials and Methods

Apparatus: pycnometer, analytical balance, beaker, hotplate, srew vial, Erlenmeyer

flask (250 ml)

Chemicals: distilled water, potassium dichromate, conc. Sulfuric acid, unknown sample

The chromic solution was prepared first by dissolving a 15 g K 2CrO3 in 27 mL distilled

water and then added with 213 mL concentrated sulfuric acid. This solution was used in cleaning
the pycnometer. After the pycnometer has been cleaned; it was rinsed with distilled water for
several times and air dried. The pycnometer was then weighed using the analytical balance.
Thereafter, the pycnometer was filled with gas-free distilled water and was suspended in the
thermostat for atleast 15 minutes to attain thermal equilibrium at 20 oC. it was then wiped to
dryness and was again weighed. The water was discarded and the pycnometer was dried in
preparation for the next sample. The process was repeated but with the unknown liquid. The
data was gathered for atleast five trials.

IV. Data / Results

Trial I Trial II Trial III Trial IV Trial V

Weigh of the pycnometer 29.4112 g 29.4112 g 29.4112 g 29.4112 g 29.4112 g
Weight of the pycnometer + 38.6818 g 38.6946 g 38.6812 g 38.6656 g 38.6792 g
water
Weight of the water 9.2706 g 9.2834 g 9.27 g 9.2544 g 9.268 g

Density of water at 20 oC 0.9982 g/ml 0.9982 g/ml 0.9982 g/ml 0.9982 g/ml 0.9982 g/ml
Volume displaced by water 9.2873 mL 9.3001 mL 9.2867 mL 9.2711 mL 9.2847 mL
in pycnometer
Weight of the unknown 41.0626 g 41.0609 g 41.0356 g 41.0273 g 41.0509 g
sample and pycnometer
Weight of the unknown 11.6514 g 11.6497 g 11.6244 g 11.6161 g 11.6397 g
sample
Density of unknown sample 1.2546 g/ml 1.2526 g/ml 1.2517 g/ml 1.2529gml 1.2536g/ml
V. Calculations of Results

The calculations below are representative to the respective calculations made to treat the
data.

Volume displaced by water in pycnometer trial I = weight of the water____

Density of water @ 20 oC

= 9.2706 grams
0.9982 g/ml

= 9.2873 milliliters

Weight of the unknown Sample trial 1 = Weight of the unknown sample plus pycnometer -
Weigh of the pycnometer
= 41.0626 grams - 29.4112 grams
= 11.6514 grams

Density of unknown Sample trial 1 = Weight of the unknown Sample ___

Volume displaced by water in pycnometer
= 11.6514 grams__
9.2873 milliliters
= 1.2546 grams/ml

Note: Same calculations were used to the other trials.

Mean density of unknown sample = trial I + trial II + trial III + trial IV + trial V
5
= 1.2546 + 1.2526 + 1.2517 + 1.2529 + 1.2536
5
= 1.2531 g/ml
VI. Discussion of the Results

The experimental determination requires two important measurable quantities which are
the mass and volume of the liquid. The mass of the liquid at twenty degrees Celsius was detained
by using the mass of pycnometer with wat er minus the mass of empty pycnometer. The
density of water at twenty degrees Celsius is 0.9982 g/ml which is constant. So the volume
displaced by water in the pycnometer was calculated using the equation (1). We obtained 9.2873
ml as shown in the calculations. The volume displaced by water in the pycnometer is equal to the
volume displaced by the unknown liquid. Using the equation (2) the density of the unknown
liquid was acquired. For trial I, II, III, IV and V the densities of unknowns are 1.2546, 1.2526,
1.2517, 1.2529, and 1.2536 respectively. Thus, the average density of unknown liquid is 1.2531
g/ml at twenty degrees Celsius.
As the temperature increases, the density of liquid will decrease. It has been observed
that the temperature is a factor of density that’s why it is important to have an equilibrium
temperature. Thus, the density of the substance varies with the change of temperature.

VII. Conclusion

In this experiment, the density of unknown liquid was acquired by using pycnometric
method. Density determination by pycnometer is a precise method to determine the density of an
unknown liquid. Since the pycnometer is a flask with a close-fitting ground glass stopper with a
fine hole through it, then the volume can be accurately obtained. This enables the density of the
liuid to be measured accurately, by reference to an appropriate working liquid. Distilled water
was used as the working liquid, for which temperature dependent values of density at twenty
degrees Celsius is already given. Thus, the density of unknown liquid (average) was 1.2531 g/ml.

VIII. References
www.wikipedia.org/density/.com