Discovering Density

Looking for Patterns and Trends

Introduction
When scientific obesrvations and measurements are made, sometimes patterns and trends emerge and
relationiships among different variables become evident. One of the best ways to recognize the existence
of relationships involving numerical data is to plot the data on a graph.
Concepts
 Mass and volume  Precision and
 Water displacement accuracy
Background
The mass and volume of five gold- or silver-colored metal samples will be measured. Mass is
measured directly using a balance. The volume of an irregularly shaped solid, however, cannot
be measured directly. Instead, its volume is measured by an indirect method called water
displacement. The initial volume of a given amount of water is measured using a graduated
cylinder. The solid is then carefully added to the water in the graduated cylinder and the new
(final) volume is recorded. The volume occupied by the solid must be the same as the volume of
water that has been displaced and is therefore equal to the difference between the final and initial
volumes.
Experiment Overview
The purpose of this experiment is to plot mass and volume data for a set of metal objects on a
graph and to deteremine the relationship between these measurements. The trend that is revealed
and its application will be analyzed and used to indentify the substance. The precision and
accuracy of the results willl also be determined.
Pre-Lab Questions
1. Volume measurements will be made using a 25-mL graduated cylinder, which as a major
scale divisions marked every 2 mL and minor scale divisions every 0.2 mL. What is the
estimated uncertainty in the volume measurements?
2. The volume of a metal cylinder was measured indirectly by water displacement three
times. The following volume readings were recorded. Calculate the average volume of
the metal cylinder.

Initial Volume (cm3) Final Volume (cm3)

7.6 19.3
8.0 20.1
6.2 18.4
3. The metal cylinder in Question #2 has a radius (r) = 1.05 cm and a height (h) = 3.32 cm.
Use the equation for the volume of a cylinder (V=πr2h) to calculate the volume of the cylinder.
Comment on the accuracy of the volume measurments obtained by water displacement.

Materials
Metal shot, 50-60 g Balance, centigram (0.01 g precision)
Beaker, 100-mL Graduated cylinder, 25-mL
Paper Towels Pen for labeling
Water Weighing dishes or small conainters 5

Saftey Precautions
Although the materials in this experiment are considred nonhazardous, follow all normal
laboratory safety guidelines. Always wear chemical splash goggles when working with
glassware in the lab.

Procedure
1. Obtain 50-60 g of silver or gold colored metal shot in a 100-mL beaker. In the Data
Table, cifcle whether the meatl is “silver” or “gold”.
2. Label a set of weighing dishes or small conatiners 1-5.
3. Tare (“zero”) weighing dish #1 on the electronic balance and add about one – fifh of the
metal shot to the dish. Measure the mass of sample #1 (it should be between 8 and 15 g).
Record the mass of sample #1 in the Data Table.
4. Repeat step 3 to divide the metal shot among the other four weighing dishes. Vary the
sample sizes so they are not all the same mass. Thus, if the first sample is 8 g, make the
next sample about 10 g, etc. Do not mix up the samples!!!
5. Obtain a clean, 25-mL graduated cylinder and add approximatly 10 mL of water to the
cylinder.
6. Measure the intial volume of water in the cylinder to the nearest 0.1 mL and record the
value for sample #1 in the Data Table. Note: Use the units cm3 for the volume
measurements. Recall, 1 mL = 1 cm3.
7. Carefully add sample #1 to the water in the graduated cylinder. The best way to do this is
to tip the cylinder at a slight angle and gently slide the metal pieces into the water so that
the water does not splash or splatter (and the galss cylinder does not break). Record the
final volume (volumer of water plus the sample) in the Data Table.
8. Subtract the initial volume from the final volume to calculate the volume of sample #1.
Record this value in the Data Table.
9. Repeat steps 6-8 for each of the reamining samples. Do NOT remove prior samples from
the cylinder between each measurement. Before adding a new sample to the cylinder,
measure the new “initial” volume in the graduated cylinder. This may not always be
precisely the same as the previous final volume reading. Record initial and final volume
measurements and the volume of each subsequent sample in the Data Table.

Discovering Denisty
Data Table
Silver or Gold?
 Sample Mass (g) Volume (initial), Volume (final) Volume
cm3 cm3 (sample) cm3
1

Graphing the Data

Plot the mass and volume data for samples 1-5 on the following graph. Each sample is represented by
one point. Use the horizontal axis for the volume and the vertical axis for the mass. Label each axis-
don’t forget the units-and make sure the scale is clearly marked. Do NOT play “connect-the-dots” with
the data points.

Post-Lab Questions
1. Does it make sense that any trend or pattern in the data should include (0,0) as a point?
Explain your reasoning.
2. What kind of trend or pattern is obvious in the data? Is tehre a consistent relationshipo
between the volume and mass measurements? Explain.
3. Based on your answers to question #1 and 2, draw a line through the data points. The
best way to do this is to place a ruler or straightedge at an angle over the data points –
find the “best-fit” straight line that includes as many points as possible.
4. Caclulate the slope of the “best-fit” line. Show all of your work! What are the unts of
the slope? What physical property is represented by the slope?
5. Are there any data points that seem out of place in the set? Do you think all of the metal
pieces in your sample set are made of the same metal? Explain.
6. Compare your value of the slope with that found by one other student grouop using a
differently colored metal (i.e. if your sample were silver, compare your data with a group
that measured gold samples). Are there values of the slope the same? Why or why not?
7. Use the following information to determine the probably identity of your metal. What type of
metal do you have?
Metal Gold Silver Iron Tin Zinc Copper Brass
Slope 19.3 10.5 7.9 7.3 7.1 8.9 8.5
(g/cm3)

8. Assuming that the indetification of your metal is valid, use the following equation to
calculate the percent error in your measurement of the slope and the physical property it
represents. The percent error measures the accuracy of your results. Comment on the
accuracy of this procedure and discuss the sources of experimental error.

percent error = x 100%

9. Density can be calculated directly by dividing the mass of an object by its volumer. Using the
mass and volume measurements recorded in the Data Table, calculate the denisty for each
sample., the average density, and the difference between each density value and the average
value. Comment on the precision of the density determination.