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EXPERIMENT #45: DENSITY OF AN UNKNOWN LIQUID Name: Marie Dunn Lab Partner: Neera Nuff

Jan 3, 2012

Objective: To determine the identity of an unknown liquid by measuring its denisty density. Prelab questions: The density of methanol is 0.791 g/mL. What is the mass of a 125 mL sample of methanol?

Safety Precautions and Chemical Handling: Proposed Procedure: 1. Obtain sample of unknown liquid. Note color, odor, etc.

2. Record mass of clean, dry 10.00 mL volumetric flask with stopper. 3. Fill volumetric flask exactly to the mark with unknown liquid and stopper the flask. 4. Measure mass of file filled flask with stopper. 5. Empty and dry fal flask. 6. Repeat steps 2-5 with additional sample of unknown. 7. Calculate density of unknown and compare to densities of known substances.

MD
Jan 03, 2012

Expt # 45- Density of Unknown liquid.

MD Jan 3, 2012

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Procedure Jan 3, 2012

Notes and Data Tables: Flask A 11.4198 g 19.5915 g 8.1717 g 0.8172 g/mL Flask B 11.2571 g 17.3892 7.9900 g 0.7990 g/mL
forgot to stopper flask after adding liquid

Unknown # 123 Mass empty flask + stopper Mass flask+ stopper+ liquid Mass Liquid Density liquid

Flask B repeated 11.3921 g 19.6124 8.000 g 0.8000 g/mL

19.2471 g

Average Density of Liquid 0.8054 g/mL Probable Identity of unknown # 123: methanol

Notes and observations: 1. Unknown was a Colorless tar transparent liquid. It had a slightly sweet odor. Liquid did not cling to sides of container when swirled. 2. Chem wipes were used to dry the flask after washing. Small drops of water were left in the flask after using the chem wipes. 3. Three trials were run intead instead of two.

MD
Jan 04, 2012

Expt # 45- Density of Unknown liquid.

MD Jan 3, 2012 Jan 3, 2012

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Calculations: Sample Density calculation (Trial A)

Mass unknown liquid = (Mass flask+ stopper+ liquid)- (Mass empty flask + stopper)

19.5915 g-11.4198 g =8.1717 g Density = mass/volume = 8.1717 g/10.00 mL = 8.172 g/mL Average Density = (0.8172 g/mL+0.7990 g/mL+0.8000 g/mL) = 0.8054 g/mL 3 trials % error = [(density unknown-density methanol)/density methanol] X 100% = [(0.8054 g/mL)-(0.7914 g/mL)/0.7914 g/mL] X 100%= 1.8%
Discussion The probable identity of unknown # 123 was determined to be methanol from its experimental density of 0.8054 g/mL. This compares to the literature value of 0.7914 g/mL (CRC Handbook, 66th ed., p. C-351). The experimental density differs from the literature value by 1.8%. Methanol is colorless, slightly less viscous than water and has a slightly sweet odor. Observations of unknown # 123 are consistent with the physical properties of methanol.

The precision of the determined density was limited by the ability of the experimenter to correctly fill the volumetric flask, the accuracy of the flask itself, and the accuracy of the balance. The balance is accurate to 0.0001 g and the volumetric flask is accurate to 0.02 mL. Sources of experimental error include: Having droplets of liquid in the neck of the flask Handling the flask with bare hands mass of fingerprints Water droplets remaining in the flask prior to filling with unknown Densities of liquid vary slightly with temperature. If the temperature in the lab was not 25C, the true values of the density of the unknown liquid may have differed from the literature values for 25C.

MD
Jan 06, 2012

Expt # 45- Density of Unknown liquid.

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This lab could be improved by improving the method of drying the volumetric flask before Jan 3, 2012 filling it with the unknown liquid. The flask could be dried by small amount of acetone could be used to rinse the flasks after washing. Any acetone remaining in the flask could be removed by evaporation. Mass errors due to fingerprints on the flask could be eliminated if the experimenter wore gloves or otherwise avoided touching the flask with bare hands. Finally, the experimenter should remove droplets clinging to the neck or outside of the flask by using a KimWipe.

MD
Jan 04, 2012