5.

SPECIFIC GRAVITY OF CEMENT

Aim:
To determine the specific gravity of cement using density bottle
Apparatus:
1. Density bottle
2. Cement
3. Balance
4. Kerosene
Theory:
The ratio of the weight in air of a given volume of cement to the weight in air of an
equal volume of distilled water at 4°C is the specific gravity of soil solids. The specific gravity of
cement finds application in the mix design calculations. As cement reacts with water, specific
gravity of cement is determined with reference to a non-reactive liquid like kerosene. Specific
gravity of cement is determined from the relation:

Gs = M 2−M 1 * GK
( M 4−M 1 )−( M 3−M 2 )
Where GK is the specific gravity of kerosene

GK = M 4−M 1
( M 5−M 1 )
Where M1 = mass of empty density bottle
M2 = mass of density bottle and 1/3 of cement
M3 = mass of density bottle + 1/3 cement + 2/3 kerosene
M4 = mass of density bottle filled with kerosene
M5 = mass of density bottle filled with water
Procedure:
1. Weight the clean dry density bottle with the cap accurate to 0.01 gm (M1).
2. Place the cement particles into the density bottle upto 1/3 rd of the height of bottle and
weighs it as (M2).
3. Fill the density bottle to half of its height with kerosene and mix it thoroughly with glass
rod. Replace the screw top and fill the density bottle from outside, and weight it (M3).
4. Remove the contents, wash the density bottle, pour kerosene into the density bottle and
weight it (M4).
5. Now the density bottle is to be filled with water and is weighed and is taken as M5.
6. Repeat steps 2 to 4 for two more trails and determination of specific gravity of cement.
Observations:

S.NO. Description 1 2 3
1 Weight of density bottle M1 in g
2 Weight of density bottle + Cement M2 in g
3 Weight of density bottle + 1/3rd cement + 2/3rd
Kerosene M3 in g
4 Weight of density bottle + Kerosene M4 in g
5 Weight of density bottle + Water M5 in g

Calculations:

Specific gravity of kerosene Gk = M 4−M 1 =

( M 5−M 1 )

Specific gravity of cement Gs in trial 1= M 2−M 1 * GK =

( M 4−M 1 )−( M 3−M 2 )

Specific gravity of cement Gs in trial 2= M 2−M 1 * GK =

( M 4−M 1 )−( M 3−M 2 )

Specific gravity of cement Gs in trial 3= M 2−M 1 * GK =

( M 4−M 1 )−( M 3−M 2 )

Result:

Average specific gravity of the cement particles by density bottle is ______________