DETERMINATION OF DENSITIES

Arciaga, Maridel
Ballenas, Louie Jay
Bernardo, Nuelle
Ferreras, Ernest Clarke
Legaspi, Hans Ludwig

College of Engineering, Architecture and Technology
De La Salle University- Dasmarias
City of Dasmarias, Cavite Philippines

ABSTRACT

An experiment in determination of densities is about how to measure density. It describes
D=Mass/Volume. Density is used to characterize substances. And usually use is commonly
expressed in g/ml for liquids, g/cm for solids and g/L for gases. In the Density Determinations
Lab, the values of objects were determined. Height and diameter were determined using a
caliper, mass was determined using an analytical scale, volume was found using displacement of
water and the dimensions, and these figures were used to determine density. The result of
percentage error in this experiment is around 4% below. A typical calibration curve and the values
of some densities measured using these methods are given as examples. The used of having the
different types of liquid was to have a deeper understanding of the different densities of the
respective liquids. Also the different application on how to get the density of regularly-shaped
solid and irregularly-shaped solid were performed. In regularly-shaped solid, the use of metric
ruler and beam balance were applied, while in irregularly-shaped solid, the use of water
displacement method was applied. The determination of densities of different substances was
performed to have definite information regarding different substances.

INTRODUCTION
In order to classify and identify materials of a wide variety, scientists use numbers called physical
constants which are characteristic of the material in question. These constants do not vary with the
amount or shape of the material, and are therefore useful in positively identifying unknown materials.
Standard reference works have been complied containing lists of data for a wide variety of substances.
The chemist makes use of this in determining the identity of an unknown substance, by measuring the
appropriate physical constants in the laboratory, consulting the scientific literature, and then comparing
the measured physical constants with the values for known materials. This experiment illustrates several
approaches to the measurement of the density of liquids and solids. Density is a measure of the
compactness of matter within a substance and is defined by the equation: Density = mass/volume.

MATERIALS AND METHOD
For the density of water, a clean and dry 100ml graduated cylinder was weighed and50ml of
water was added into the graduated cylinder. The graduated cylinder with water was weighed again to get
its mass. For the density of a liquid other than water, a clean and dry 10mlgraduated cylinder was
weighed and 5.0ml of the different liquid samples (isopropyl alcohol, coconut oil and unknown liquid) were
added to the graduated cylinder. Again it was weighed to get the mass of the liquid samples.
For the density of the rectangular solid, a metric ruler was used to measure the length, width, and
height of it to the nearest tenth of a centimeter. The rectangular solid was weighed to the nearest tenth of
a gram. For the spherical solid, a metric ruler was used to measure the diameter of it to the nearest tenth
of a centimeter. Then it was weighed to the nearest tenth of gram.
For the density of the irregularly-shaped solids, a clean and dry watch glass was weighed and
pieces of pebbles were put to the watch glass and weigh again. On the other hand, a 30ml of water was
added to 100ml graduated cylinder, the pebbles were added to the container and the final volume was
determined.

RESULT AND DISCUSSION
1. Densities of Liquids
Liquids
Mass of
dry, empty
cylinder
Mass of
cylinder
and water
Mass of
water
Volume of
water
Experimental
density of
water
Known
density of
water at
30C
Percentage
error
1. Water 94. 7 g 143.6 g 48.9 g 50 mL 0.978 g/mL 1.00 g/mL 2.2 %
2. Isopropyl
Alcohol
25.6 g 29.4 g 3.8 g 5.0 mL 0.76 g/mL 0.79 g/mL 3.8 %
3. Coconut Oil 25.6 g 30.2 g 4.6 g 5.0 mL 0.92 g/mL 0.9 g/mL 2.2 %
4. Unknown
Liquid
(Kerosene)
25.6 g 29.5 g 3.9 g 5.0 mL 0.78 g/mL 0.81 g/mL 3.7 %

The known densities of the liquids at 30C are given and the result of percentage error in this
experiment is around 4% below. This means that the procedures is followed and done correctly. And the
possible source of error in this experiment is not exactly in the measure of mass and volume of the
graduated cylinder and given liquids in the procedures even the temperature of the place can affected.




2. Densities of Solids
Rectangular Solid Spherical Solid Pebbles

Mass of
Solid
65.6 g
Length 12 cm
Width 7 cm
Height 1.7 cm
Volume 142.8

Density 0.46 g/

This is an experimental experiment only to determine the densities of the given solids so that the
results are have not percentage error process. But in the water displacement analyzation, the volume of
water displacement by the irregularly-shaped object is the same as its volume. Dividing the mass by this
volume is result to the density of irregularly-shaped object.

REFERENCE
1. Figueroa, L. V. and Samonte, J. L. 2007. Laboratory Manual for General Chemistry. 3rd Ed.
Manila: C & E Publishing, Inc.
2. Silberberg, Martin S. 2010. Principles of General Chemistry. 2
nd
edition. New York, NY: McGraw-
Hill Higher Education.
3. Laird, Brian B. 2009. University Chemistry. International Student Edition. New York, NY :
McGraw-Hill Higher Education



Mass of empty
watch glass
30.8 g
Mass of watch
glass and pebbles
34.7 g
Mass of pebbles 3.9 g
Initial volume of
water in cylinder
30 mL
Final volume of
water in cylinder
32 mL
Volume of pebbles 2 mL
Density of pebbles 1.95
g/mL
Mass of
Solid
5.4 g
Diameter 1.75 cm
Volume 2.81

Density 1.92 g/