Lab Demo – Density of Copper

Objective:
Students will be able to prove that density is an intensive property
Students will be able to draw particle diagrams for various samples of copper.
Background:
Density is a derived unit of measurement in that it consists of taking two independent measurements and
𝑔 𝑔
requires calculations. The most common measurements of density are expressed in 𝑚𝐿 or 𝑐𝑚3 , these are both
calculated via the same means – the mass of the sample must be divided by the volume. The volume can be
measured using different pieces of equipment but the regardless, the density should remain the same because
density is an intensive property of a substance, which means that regardless of the amount of the sample the
property is consistent. The density of Copper should be 8.96 g/cm3 or 8.96 g/mL at room temperature.
Materials:
Scale Graduated Cylinder Ruler Water Various Samples of Copper
Hazards:
Not participating in the lesson and the look of bewilderment and disappointment that your teacher will express.

Procedures Observations/Calculations
1. Calculate the volume of the regular shaped
copper
3 measurements away V 4.43cm 1.19cm 1.16cm
6.12cm
2. Measure the mass of the sample useweigh
3. Calculate density
boat
M 63.3567

4. Measure the mass of the irregular shaped D 532567 10.4glam

Why do you think we measure the mass of the
sample
irregular shaped before its volume?

5. Calculate the volume of the irregular shaped

m 30.9911g
sample
Vi 20.7mL V 24.6mL
6. Calculate the density Tubtract
D 7.94mi
 7. Measure the mass of the 2nd irregular shaped
sample
are weightboat M 2.6655g
8. Calculate the volume of the irregular shaped
sample
water displacement
put water measure
put object measure 8Q1ML 8.29mL
9. Calculate the density subtract both to find
volume
V Uf

9.591mi
10. Measure the mass of the 3rd irregular shaped
sample
D 65
11. Calculate the volume of the irregular shaped
sample

12. Calculate the density

Sample Mass Volume Density

Regular Shaped

1st Irregular

2nd Irregular

3rd Irregular

Graph
Conclusion:
How does your data support the fact that density is an intensive property?

The data suports the fact that density is an intensiveproperty because

the number was 8.96 and our samples were 10.4 7.9 and a 2 which
verycloseand consistent