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Jenna Voigt
Professor Boyke
CH 136
8 July 2022

Density and Specific Gravity

Pre-Lab Study Questions
1. What property of oil makes it float on water?

The property of oil that allows it to float in water is its density. Oil is less dense than water
and it also does not mix with water, which allows the oil to float on water.

2. Why would heating the gas in an air balloon make the balloon rise?

As the air is heated, it will expand and will become less dense than the cool air that is
surrounding it. This will allow the hot air to rise.

3. What is the difference between density and specific gravity?

Density is the measure of the amount of mass per volume. Specific gravity is the
comparison of the density of an object compared with the density of water.

4. How does a graph help us interpret scientific data?

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A graph allows us to see any changes in the data which can then be used to predict a trend
in the details of the data.

A. Density of a Solid (Use the “density of a solid demonstration” to collect data.)

A.1 Mass of the solid ____18 g_______

A.2 Volume of the solid by displacement Initial water level (mL) ____20 mL________

Final water level with solid (mL) ____32 mL_________

Volume of solid (mL) ____12 mL_________

A.3 Calculating the density of the solid ____1.5 g/mL_______

Show calculations
18 g / 12 mL = 1.5 g/mL

Questions and Problems (Show complete setup)

Q.1 An object made of aluminum has a mass of 9.37 g. When it was placed in a graduated
cylinder containing 24.0 mL of water, the water level rose to 27.3 mL. Calculate the density and
specific gravity of the object.
9.37 g/ 3.3 mL = 2.84 g/mL
Specific gravity= 1

B. Density of a Liquid (Use the “Sugar-Water Experiment” to collect data)

B.1 Volume of Liquid

Type of liquid sugar water

Volume (mL) ___3.3 mL________

B.2 Mass of Liquid

Mass of beaker ___50 g___________

Mass of beaker + liquid ___75 g___________

Mass of liquid ___25 g_________

B.3 Density of a Liquid

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Density ___7.58 g/mL_________

(Calculations for density)
25g/3.3 mL = 7.58 g/mL

C. Specific Gravity
C.1 Specific gravity _____7.58_________
(Show calculations, calculated from B.3)
7.58 g/mL / 1.00 g/mL = 7.58

Questions and Problems (Show complete setups.)

Q.2 What is the mass of a solution that has a density of 0.44 g/mL and a volume of 60.0 mL?
Mass= density * volume
= (0.44 g/mL) * (60.0 mL)
= 26.4 grams

Q.3 What is the volume of a solution that has a specific gravity of 1.4 and a
mass of 285 g?

(1.4) * (1 g/mL) = 1.4 g/mL

V=m/p
V=285/1.4
V= 204 mL