An Introduction to Density

by
Helen Hanson &
John Macaluso

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 Density
Density is the ratio of the mass of an object to
its volume

D = mass = m
volume V
Units are g/cm3

Note: 1 mL = 1 cm3

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 Learning Check 1

Osmium is a very dense metal. What is its

density in g/cm3 if 50.00 g of the metal occupies
a volume of 2.22cm3?

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 Solution
Placing the mass and volume of the osmium metal
into the density setup, we obtain

D = mass = 50.00 g
volume 2.22cm3

= 22.5225 g/cm3

= 22.52 g/cm3
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 Volume Displacement
A solid displaces a matching volume of water
when the solid is placed in water.

33 mL
25 mL 25 mL

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 Learning Check 2
What is the density (g/cm3) of 48 g of a metal if
the metal raises the level of water in a graduated
cylinder from 25 mL to 33 mL?
1) 0.2 g/ cm3 2) 6 g/m3 3) 252 g/cm3

33 mL
25 mL
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 Solution
2) 6 g/cm3
Volume (mL) of water displaced
= 33 mL - 25 mL = 8 mL
Volume of metal (cm3)
= 8 mL x 1 cm3 = 8 cm3
1 mL
Density of metal =
mass = 48 g = 6 g/cm3
volume 8 cm3

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 Methods for Finding Volume
The density can also be found by
calculating the volume of an object and
measuring its mass.

height
V=(length)(width)(height)

width

length
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 Density of a Cylinder
 What is the density of a cylinder with a
mass of 250.0g, a radius of 2.0 cm, and a
height of 10.0 cm?
r

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 Density of a Cylinder
Vcylinder = лr2h = л x 5 x 5 x 10 (cm)(cm)(cm)
= 250л cm3 r
r = radius h
h = height D = 250/(250л) g/cm3
D = m/V D =1/л g/cm3
m = 250.0 g D = 0.318 g/cm3

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 Why Do Things Float?

Things (whether solid, liquid or gas) with

LESS density will float in a liquid with
GREATER density.

For example, this is why a stone (with HIGH

density) will sink in water (LOW density), but
a cork (LOW density) will float in water.

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 Learning Check 3
Which diagram represents the liquid layers in
the cylinder?
(K) Karo syrup (1.4 g/mL), (V) vegetable oil
(0.91 g/mL,) (W) water (1.0 g/mL)
1) 2) 3)

V W K
W K V
K V W
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 Solution
(K) Karo syrup (1.4 g/mL), (V) vegetable oil
(0.91 g/mL,) (W) water (1.0 g/mL)

1)

V
W
K
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 Density as Conversion Factors
A substance has a density of 3.8 g/mL.

Density = 3.8 g/mL

Equality 3.8 g = 1 mL

Conversion factors:
3.8 g and 1 mL
1 mL 3.8 g
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 Density Connections

Mass Volume

kg L

g mL (cm3)

mg
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 Learning Check
The density of octane, a component of
gasoline, is 0.702 g/mL. What is the
mass, in kg, of 875 mL of octane?
1) 0.614 kg
2) 614 kg

3) 1.25 kg

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 Solution
1) 0.614 kg
Unit plan: mL  g  kg
Equalities: 1 mL = 0.702 g and 1 kg = 1000 g
Setup:

875 mL x 0.702 g x 1 kg = 0.614 kg

1 mL 1000 g
density metric
factor factor
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 Learning Check
If blood has a density of 1.05 g/mL, how
many liters of blood are donated if 575 g of
blood are given?

1) 0.548 L
2) 1.25 L
3) 1.83 L

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 Solution

1) Unit Plan: g mL L

575 g x 1 mL x 1 L = 0.548 L
1.05 g 1000 mL

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 Learning Check

A group of students collected 125 empty

aluminum cans to take to the recycling
center. If each can has a mass of 3g what
volume of aluminum can be made if the
cans were melted (Hint: d = 2.7 g/mL)?

1) 0.139L 2) 207 L 3) 4.85 L

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 Solution
1) 1.0 L

125 cans x 3g = 375g = mass

1 can
So, V = mass = 375g = 139mL = 0.139L
density 2.7 g/mL

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 Learning Check

You have 3 metal samples. Which one will displace

the greatest volume of water?
1 2 3

25 g Al 45 g of gold 75 g of Lead
2.70 g/mL 19.3 g/mL 11.3 g/mL

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 Solution

1) 25 g Al x 1 mL = 9.2 mL
2.70 g
25 g Al
2.70 g/mL

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