CHM01 General Chemistry 1

2nd Semester SY 2017-2018

Measurement of the Density of Solid and Liquid

Ong, Al Melvin Jr. L.1; Aseron, Stephanie M., Baisas, Alyssa Marie B., Destajo, Kurt Harvey, Domingo, Teoderic B.,
Gorubat, Tatuz Loren D., Talavera, Joanna Elaine J.2
1Teacher, Mapúa Senior High School Department, Mapúa University; 2Student (s), CHEM01/IS120-Murray, Mapúa Senior High School Department, Mapúa University

ABSTRACT

This experiment examined the measurements of the density of solid and liquid. Starting off with measuring the density of solids,
there are two ways to determine it, which is by geometric method and by water displacement method. In using the geometric
method, the mass- 53.48 g, the height of stack coins- 2.032 cm, the diameter of coin- 2.54 cm, the volume of the stack coins-
10.30 cm3, and the density of the coin- 5.19 g/cm3 were obtained from the computations. And when measuring the density of
solid using the water displacement method, the mass- 53.48 g, the initial volume of the water- 50 mL, final volume of the water-
56 mL, the volume of stack coins- 6 mL, and the density of the stack coins- 9 g/mL were also obtained from the computations.
For measuring the density of liquid, temperature has a big role. The hotter the temperature, the lower the density. The colder the
temperature, the higher the density. In conclusion, when measuring the density of solid, the geometric method is more accurate
because it has a more extensive method of getting the density through measurements. On the other hand, the water displacement
water is more appropriate for determining the density of an irregularly shaped solid because mass will be the only definite
measurement you can get from it. When measuring the density of liquid, we use the Percent Error wherein the temperature is an
important factor because it affects the density.

INTRODUCTION

The objective of this experiment was to determine the density
of a substance by conducting two different methods to find
the amounts of the density of a solid and a liquid. These
substances have their own particular amount of density by
doing an exhibit with its given mass and volumes. In this
case, we used apparatuses such as a platform balance for
the mass, and a 100 mL graduated cylinder and formula to
identify its volume.
The purpose of this investigation was to determine the
density of solids given the particular shape, mass and
volume of the object and liquids given the mass, volume, and
its temperature.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
Experiment 2 regarding the measurement of the density of
solids and liquids were done last August 25, 2018. Our aim
was to determine the different ways of measuring the density
of solids and liquids.
Measurement of density of solids. Upon performing the
geometric method for the density of solids, we used a ruler
for measuring the diameter and height of the coin cylinder,
and an electronic balance for measuring its mass. 𝑉 =
𝜋𝑟 2 ℎ is the equation used for solving the volume of the coin
cylinder. On the other hand, we used 50 mL of tap water and
a 100-mL graduated cylinder as the water’s container to
determine the initial volume. For the final volume, we placed
the ten one-peso coins and slowly stacked them into the
graduated cylinder and read its measurement. The mass of
the coins was measured through an electronic balance. We
calculated the density of the coins by dividing the mass of
the stack of coins by the volume.
Measurement of density of liquids. The execution of trial
1 was done when we weighed a dry graduated cylinder,
without and with 50-mL of distilled water giving us two
different measurements. The mass of the water is equal to
the mass of the graduated cylinder containing the water
minus the mass of the dry and empty graduated cylinder. It
is needed for the equation of getting the density through
dividing the mass of water by 50-mL. Trial 2 was executed
repeating the same procedures in order, yet instead of using
50-mL of distilled water, 100 mL of distilled water was used.
The percent error was calculated through its general
equation.

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 CHM01 General Chemistry 1
2nd Semester SY 2017-2018

RESULTS Trial 1 Trial 2

Mass of empty 100-mL graduated 95.88 g 95.88 g
Table 1. Measurement of the Density of Solid by Geometric cylinder in grams
Method. Volume of water in mL 50 mL 100 mL
Mass in grams 53.48 g
Mass of graduated cylinder and 144.60 195.55
Height of stack coins in 2.032 cm water in grams g g
cm Temperature of water in degree 3°C 3°C
Diameter of coin in cm 2.54 cm Celsius
Mass of water in grams 48.72 g 99.67 g
Volume of the stack coins 10.30 cm3 Density of water in grams per mL 0.97 1 g/mL
in cm3 g/mL
Density of the stack coins 5.19 g/ cm3 Average density of water in grams 96 g/mL
in g/cm3 per mL
True Value of the density of water in 1 g/mL
Table 1 shows the value of mass in grams, the height of stack grams per mL
of coins in cm, the diameter of coin in cm, the volume of the Percent error 4%
stack coins in cm3, and the density of the stack coins in g/cm3.
Table 3 shows that we performed with a 100-mL graduated
cylinder and two different volumes of distilled water for trial 1
Table 2. Measurement of the Density of Solid by Water and 2. It shows the mass of graduated cylinder and water in
Displacement Method. grams, the temperature of distilled water in degree Celsius,
Mass in grams the mass of distilled water in grams, the density of distilled
water in grams per mL, the average density of distilled water
Initial volume of water in 50 mL in grams per mL, the true value of the density of distilled
mL water in grams per mL, and the percent error.
Final volume of water in 56 mL
mL
DISCUSSION
Volume of the stack coins 6 mL
in mL
Measurement of the Density of Solid by Geometric
Density of the stack coins 9 g/mL
Method
in g/mL
The solid to be measured was a ten one-peso coin stacked
Table 2 shows the initial volume of water in mL and the final
upon one another. In order to determine the mass of the
volume of water in mL, the volume of the stack of coins in mL
given solid, an electronic balance, provided by the school,
and the density of the stack of coins in g/mL.
was used as an instrument for the measurement. The result,
given by the instrument, was 53.48 g. Because the mass was
then known, it was time to find out the volume of the stacked
Table 3. Measurement of the Density of Liquid.
coins. In order to find the volume of the given solid, the
measurement of the height and the diameter of the stacked
coins were required. A ruler was used to achieve this goal. It
is a bit skeptical to use only a ruler when finding the
measurement of the stacked coin; it was difficult to pinpoint
the exact measurement of a very small object, especially in
centimeters. The height, according to the ruler, is 2.032 cm
and the diameter being 2.54 cm, it was time to proceed in
finding the volume of the solid with the given formula: 𝑉 =
𝜋𝑟 2 ℎ cubed. The result was 10.30 cm3. The mass, which is
53.48 g, and the volume, which is 10.30 cm3, is known, thus

Experiment 01│ Group No.│ Date 2 of 3

 CHM01 General Chemistry 1
2nd Semester SY 2017-2018

𝑚
the density can then be calculated; 𝐷𝑒𝑛𝑠𝑖𝑡𝑦 = . The
𝑉
density of the stacked coins is 5.19 g/ cm3.
In this experiment, we were able to get results through
geometric method. When you say “Geometrically,” It is all
about lengths. All we needed was the knowledge of basic
formulas e.g. Density & Volume. This was an easier method
to begin with. Basically, we followed the procedure in the lab
manual. We first computed for the volume then proceeded to
calculate for the density. So far there were no known errors
and such. The only thing we were skeptical about was the
measurements. We had difficulty using a ruler because of the
size of the stacked coins.
weighed 144.60g. The temperature of the 50mL water was 3
degrees Celsius. The mass was calculated by getting the
difference between the empty graduated cylinder and the
graduated cylinder containing water, which is 48.72g. The
mass of the water was divided to 50mL in order to get the
density, which is calculated to be .97g/mL. Another trial was
made with 100mL of water. Still the same procedure with the
weight being 195.55g, the temperature being 3 degrees
Celsius, and the mass becoming 99.67g. The density of the
second trial was determined by dividing the mass, which is
99.67g, to 100mL. The density results to 1g/mL. The average
density of the water was .96g/ml, and the percent error was
4%.

Measurement of the Density of Solid by Water CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS

displacement method
This is a method that uses water displacement to find the
volume of an object. Volume is a measure of the amount of
space an object takes up. When a cylinder is submerged in
the water, it pushes water out of the way. By measuring the
amount of the level in which the water increases, you can
find the volume of the water pushed out of the way.
The initial volume was a 50mL tap water in a 100mL
graduated cylinder. The ten one-peso coin was then placed
slowly inside the graduated cylinder, thus indicated the final
volume which is 56mL. The volume of the coins was
determined by the difference between the final volume and
the initial volume, which is 6mL. The mass of the coins was
already predetermined: 53.48g. The density, in g/mL, is 9
g/mL. The water that was used for the measurement was
disposed of.
The experiment achieved the objective which is to measure
the density of solids using two kinds of method: the
geometric method and water displacement method and to
determine which method is better for solids depending on its
shape. We conclude that we should use the geometric
method in regular-shaped objects because we can easily tell
its mass and volume based on its shape and solve it through
a mathematical formula. For irregular-shaped objects, we
should use Water Displacement method because the
object’s mass will be the only definite measurement we can
get from it. For the Percent Error in determining the density
of water, it is important to know the temperature of the liquid
as it affects has a direct effect to the liquid’s density.

In this experiment, we were able to get results through water

displacement method. We did not need a lot of calculations,
unlike what we did in the first one. We were able to get results
instantly. Everything was according to what was said in the
procedure and the results were expected.

Measurement of the Density of the Liquid (Water)

This is where we weighed the liquid inside the Graduated
Cylinder by subtracting the mass of the graduated cylinder
with water and the mass of the empty graduated cylinder,
then proceeded to finding its volume and its density. This
time, we used a percent error when calculating results that
are aiming for known values. Percent error formula is a
useful tool for determining the precision of the calculations.
(Percent Error Formula., 2017)

The empty graduated cylinder weighed precisely 25.88g. A

50mL water was added to the graduated cylinder and

Experiment 01│ Group No.│ Date 3 of 3