De La Salle Health Sciences Institute

College of Medical Radiation Technology

Determination of Densities

Signo, Marionne Ivy M.

Tanqueco, Zyrile Jules

Abstract

Density is a physical property of matter, as each element and compound has a unique density
associated with it. Density defined in a qualitative manner as the measure of the relative "heaviness" of
objects with a constant volume. For liquids the density may also vary with the temperature. In chemistry,
the density of many substances is compared to the density of water. Does an object float on water or sink
in the water? If an object such as a piece of wood floats on water it is less dense than water vs. if a rock
sinks, it is more dense than water. Density of a liquid with a constant volume, varies according to the
weight. The higher the weight, the higher the density.

In this experiment, different sample of Liquids were used and determined their densities. Water,
ethanol, coconut oil and an unknown liquid sample were used. For the density of water, a clean dry 100
ml graduated cylinder, triple beam balance and 50 ml water were being prepared. First, a 100 ml
graduated cylinder was weighed using a triple beam balance. It was then added with 50 ml water. With
this, the mass of the container with water was determined.

For the density of liquid other than water, three(3) different samples were used. First, using a
triple beam balance, a clean dry 10 ml graduated cylinder was weighed. It was then added with 5.0 ml of
ethanol. Then, the graduated cylinder was weighed with the ethanol. Steps were also done with the
coconut oil and the unknown liquid sample.

In measuring the densities of solids, different solid objects were used. The regularly-shaped
solids and the irregularly-shaped solids were the variables. For the density of the regularly-shaped solids,
a rectangular solid and a spherical solid were used. For the rectangular solid, with the use of ruler, the
length, width and thickness were measured to the nearest tenth of a centimeter. It was then weighed in a
triple beam balance to the nearest tenth of a gram.

For a spherical solid, with the use of a ruler and a string, the diameter of it was measured to the
nearest tenth of a centimeter. It was then weighed to the nearest tenth gram.

In determining the density of an irregularly-shaped solid, a clean, dry watch glass was weighed
using a triple beam balance. Then, a pebble was placed on the watch glass and was weighed again.
Then, a 100 ml graduated cylinder was filled with 30 ml water. A piece of pebble was immersed in water
contained in the graduated cylinder. The final volume of it was then determined.

Based on the results given, different liquid sample also have different densities. In liquid samples, the
water was determined to have the highest density at 30°C. While solid is generally more dense. The
individual molecules have less energy and are less active as temperature decreases. Therefore, they take
up less space (volume decreases).

However, there are exceptions to this general rule. The most well-known exception is water. Solid
water (ice) is less dense than liquid water. This is because of the unique structure of the bonds in the
water molecule. These bonds are quite flexible when the water is in a liquid state, but become very rigid
as the water freezes. The more flexible bonds in liquid water allow the individual molecules to squeeze
tighter against each other, while the rigid bonds in ice force them apart.

Density shows how tightly packed together molecules are in an object. Density is dependent on
mass and volume. The greater the mass,the higher the density. The lower the volume,the higher the
density.

Introduction

The density at any point of a homogeneous object equals its total mass divided by its total
volume. The mass is normally measured with an appropriate scale or balance; the volume may be
measured directly (from the geometry of the object) or by the displacement of a fluid. Hydrostatic
weighing, for instance uses, the displacement of water due to a submerged object to determine
the density of the object.

If the body is not homogeneous, then the density is a function of the position. In that case
the density around any given location is determined by calculating the density of a small volume
around that location.

With this knowledge an experiment was done. Different mass, volumes and densities were
determined in different variables.

Materials and Methods

In measuring the densities of liquids, different liquid samples were used. For the density of water,
a clean dry 100 ml graduated cylinder, triple beam balance and 50 ml water were being prepared. First, a
100 ml graduated cylinder was weighed using a triple beam balance. It was then added with 50 ml water.
With this, the mass of the container with water was determined.

For the density of liquid other than water, three(3) different samples were used. The ethanol,
coconut oil and an unknown liquid sample were used. First, using a triple beam balance, a clean dry 10
ml graduated cylinder was weighed. It was then added with 5.0 ml of ethanol. Then, the graduated
cylinder was weighed with the ethanol. Steps were also done with the coconut oil and the unknown liquid
sample.

In measuring the densities of solids, different solid objects were used. The regularly-shaped
solids and the irregularly-shaped solids were the variables. For the density of the regularly-shaped solids,
a rectangular solid and a spherical solid were used. For the rectangular solid, with the use of ruler, the
length, width and thickness were measured to the nearest tenth of a centimeter. It was then weighed in a
triple beam balance to the nearest tenth of a gram.

For a spherical solid, with the use of a ruler and a string, the diameter of it was measured to the
nearest tenth of a centimeter. It was then weighed to the nearest tenth gram.
 In determining the density of an irregularly-shaped solid, a clean, dry watch glass was weighed
using a triple beam balance. Then, a pebble was placed on the watch glass and was weighed again.
Then, a 100 ml graduated cylinder was filled with 30 ml water. A piece of pebble was immersed in water
contained in the graduated cylinder. The final volume of it was then determined.

Results and Discussions

The following tables show the results of the experiment:

Densities of Liquids

Liquid Sample Water Ethanol Coconut oil Unknown

Mass of dry, empty 95.5 g 44.1 g 44.1 g 44.1 g
cylinder

Mass with cylinder 145.1 g 47.9 g 47.9 g 48.1 g

Mass 49.6 r 3.8 r 3.8 r 4.0 r
Volume 50 ml 5.0 ml 5.0 ml 5.0 ml
Experimental 1.0 g/ml 0.76 g/ml 0.96 g/ml 0.8 g/ml
density

Known density of 1 g/ml 0.789 g/ml 0.925 g/ml 0.786 g/ml

liquid sample at 30
°C

Percentage error 0% 3.7% 3.8 % 1.8 %

With the use of a triple beam balance, the mass, volume and density of different samples of
liquids were determined. But, liquids can’t be weigh since their molecules were not that stable and
compact. A graduated cylinder was considered to be the apparatus to be used in order to determine the
mass of the different liquid sample. And through determining the mass we can then get the volume and
their density.

From the table, the water was determined to have a density of 1.0 g/ml and it was given that it
has a 1 g/ml density at 30 °C. From that, it gave a zero percentage of error. But with the ethanol, coconut
oil and the unknown sample of liquid, it gave 3.7 percentage of error for the ethanol, 3.8 %for coconut oil,
and 1.8 % error for the unknown one. This shows that water is really the denser of any liquid.

Densities of Solids

Regularly-shaped solids Rectangular Solid Spherical solid

Mass 153.2 g 5.9 g
Length 10.1 cm -------------
Width 5.1 cm -------------
Height 5.1 cm -------------
 Volume 262.7 cm³ 1.6 cm³
density 0.6 g/cm³ 3.7 g/cm³
diameter ------------- 5.5 cm

Irregularly-shaped Solid Pebble

Mass of empty watch glass 54.8 g
Mass of watch glass and pebble 58.9 g
Mass of pebble 4.05 g
Initial volume of water in graduated cylinder 30 ml
Final volume of water in graduated cylinder 33 ml
Volume of pebble 3 ml
Density of pebble 1.3 g/ml

From the tables, the spherical solid was determined to have more density having 3.7 g/cm³ than
that of the rectangular solid which was determined to have 0.6 g/cm³ of density.

For the irregularly-shaped solid, the pebble was used and it was determined to have a density of
1.3 g/cm³ which shows that it is more dense that that of the spherical solid but it is less dense than that of
the rectangular solid.

With the results shown in table form, errors were attained. This may be caused of lack of
accuracy and precision in reading the measurements. For more accurate data/results, one should always
prioritize on safety and accurate measurement.

Conclusion

Based on the results given, different liquid sample also have different densities. In liquid samples,
the water was determined to have the highest density at 30°C. While solid is generally more dense. The
individual molecules have less energy and are less active as temperature decreases. Therefore, they take
up less space (volume decreases).

However, there are exceptions to this general rule. The most well-known exception is water. Solid
water (ice) is less dense than liquid water. This is because of the unique structure of the bonds in the
water molecule. These bonds are quite flexible when the water is in a liquid state, but become very rigid
as the water freezes. The more flexible bonds in liquid water allow the individual molecules to squeeze
tighter against each other, while the rigid bonds in ice force them apart.

Density shows how tightly packed together molecules are in an object. Density is dependent on
mass and volume. The greater the mass,the higher the density. The lower the volume,the higher the
density.
 References

Internet

1) How To Measure the Density of a Solid | eHow.com http://www.ehow.com/how_6390764_measure-

density-solid.html#ixzz173I0GhWF

2) http://wiki.answers.com/Q/Is_density_of_a_solid_more_than_that_of_a_liquid#ixzz173HEMdIB

Book

1)Oxford Textbook Of Medicine.Oxford University Press, USA; 4 edition (September 15, 2005)

2)Figueroa L.V., and Samonte J.L. General Chemistry Laboratory Manual. 3 rd edition. C and E Pblishing ,
Inc. 2007