Name:

Experiment No. 1

Density of Solids and Liquids (Pycnometer, Law of Archimedes)

1. Objective(s):

The activity aims to show the process on how to determine the density of liquids and
solids.

2. Intended Learning Outcome (ILOs):

The students shall be able to:

2.1 determine the density of a liquid using a pycnometer and a Mohr-Westphal

balance.

2.2 recognize the effect of concentration of liquids on density.

2.3 determine the density of a solid with a pycnometer.

3. Discussion:

Density determination consists of finding the weight of liquid occupying a known

volume of container. A pycnometer is a glass container that maybe filled precisely to a pre-
determined volume. The volume of the pycnometer can be obtained by finding its mass when
filled with liquid of known density. Solid densities on the other hand, are determined
pycnometrically from the volume of reference liquid displaced by the submerged solid.

A convenient method for determining densities or specific gravities is one which uses
the principle of Archimedes, namely, that when a body is immersed in a fluid there is exerted
on the body a vertical upward force equal to the weight of fluid displaced.

Less accurate methods to determine density include the use of hydrometers which are
floats calibrated to indicate the density of a liquid by the extent to which they submerge and
westphal balance which measures the buoyant exerted on the object immersed in the liquid.
 Figure 1.1 A westphal balance

Where: 1 Foot with adjustment screws

2 Metal frame with adjustable height

3 Balance beam with notches

4 Plummet (glass cylinder with thin Platinum wire)

4. Materials:

Pycnometer Bunsen burner Table salt Benzene

Analytical Balance Thermometer Distilled water Carbon

tetrachloride

2 Beaker (300 mL) Aspirator Ethyl alcohol Lead shots

Tripod Pipette

5. Procedure:

Part I. Density determination using pycnometer

 A. Pycnometer determination of Liquid density

1. Boil some distilled water.

2. Weigh accurately on an analytical balance a clean and dry pycnometer.
3. Fill the pycnometer with gas free distilled water. To remove trapped air bubbles at
the exit capillary, tilt the pycnometer so that the bubbles is at the entrance of the
pycnometer then aspirate more liquid into the pycnometer. Level of liquid must be
consistent in all determination.
4. Measure the temperature of water with thermometer (temperature must remain
constant during filling and weighing). Wipe the outside of the pycnometer, dry and
weigh again.
5. Repeat procedure 2 to 4 with ethyl alcohol, salt solution and unknown liquid
(supplied by instructor).

B. Pycnometer determination of Solid density

6. Weigh accurately a clean and dry pycnometer.

7. Fill the pycnometer with distilled water and weigh again.
8. Remove the water, dry the pycnometer and place two grams of solid compound
supplied by your instructor. Weigh the pycnometer with solid compound.
9. Fill the pycnometer (with solid compound) with distilled water and weigh again.
Note: to remove any air bubbles trapped around the solid, add enough water to
cover the solid and then aspirate the air bubbles.

Part II. Density determination using Westphal Balance

1. Place the leveling screw on the base of the instrument so that it is in the position
under the arm of the balance. Clean and dry the glass plummet and hang it by the
fine wire from the hook at the end of the arm of the balance.
2. By means of the leveling screw adjust the arm of the balance so that it is horizontal
that is, so that the two pointers are in line. Clean the gas hydrometer jar and
partially fill it with distilled water. Immerse the glass plummet in the water and adjust
the height of the instrument so that a single strand of the fine wire cuts the surface
of the water. See that no bubbles adhere to the glass plummet.
3. For liquid water, the unit weight hung at the end of the arm restores the balance. If
the glass plummet is placed in other liquids, the weights required to restore the
balance directly measure the specific gravity of the liquids. For high accuracy in
measuring the specific gravity or relative densities of liquids it is necessary to have
 the liquids at the same temperature. This is true not only because the density of
liquids changes with temperature but also because the glass plummet changes in
volume. If the temperature is within a few degrees, the error introduced is not large.
4. Suppose that a balance is obtained when the glass plummet is immersed in water
at 20 °C with heights of 1.0 and 0.1 at notch 9, the 0.01 weight at notch 8 and the
0.001 weight at notch 5, and when immersed in another liquid at the same
temperature a balance is obtained with weight 1.0 at notch 8, weights 0.1 and 0.01
at notch 6, and weight 0.001 at notch 4.
5. Find the density of the various liquids provided, being careful to see that the glass
plummet and the hydrometer jar are carefully cleaned each time before a new liquid
is used. Read and record the temperature of the thermometer in the glass plummet
each time.

Calculations:

Part I. Density determination

mass of water
Volume of pycnometer = density of water (1.1)

mass of liquid
Density of liquid or salt solution = volume of pycnometer (1.2)

Note: If using platform balance weight in all determination must be corrected to vacuum.

Correction to vacuum maybe calculated from the equation:

1 1
Wv = Wf + 0.0012Wf
( − ) (1.3)
Dm 8 . 4

Where:

Wv = weight of substance corrected to vacuum

 Wf = weight of substance in air

Dm = density of substance

8.4 = density of weights (brass)

In correcting the weight to vacuum of a substance whose density has not yet been
calculated, use the approximation:

Wf
Dm = v (1.4)

Where: V = volume of the substance

Part II. Density determination using Westphal Balance

The principle of the westphal balance is based on the known buoyancy of a reference
glass body. The density of the test liquid is calculated according to

m₁ m₁
(1+ )
ρ= m₂ ρwater + m₂ ρair (1.5)

Where m₁ and m₂ are the masses of the glass cylinder immersed in water and in the
test liquid, respectively.

The beam of the balance is balanced with the plummet (glass cylinder hanging on a
thin platinum wire attached to a hook on the beam) in air using the adjustable screws on the
foot. When adjusted, the index pointer on the end of the beam lines up with the point on the
frame. The plummet is then completely immersed in the unknown liquid, and the system is
rebalanced, using a series of riders on the nine equally spaced notches on the beam, thus
specifying the value of the added mass for each decimal place. This gives the buoyant force
of the liquid relative to water, and hence the density, which may be obtained to three decimal
places.
Course:

Experiment No.:

Group No.:

Section:

Group Members:

Date Performed:

Date Submitted:

Instructor:

6. Data and Results:

Water Ethyl Salt Pure liquid Unit

Alcohol Solution unknown
Weight of Pycnometer with 15.6570 26.292 26.2929 15.6570 g
air 9
Weight of Pycnometer with 39.8925 49.435 58.6310 35.0853 g
liquid 3
Weight of liquid 24.2355 23.142 32.3381 19.4283 g
4
Volume of Liquid 25 25 25 25 ml
Temperature of liquid 39 29 32 28 °C
Weight of liquid in vacuum 24.2620 23.175 32.3635 19.4555 g
7
Density of liquid 0.9694 0.9257 1.2935 0.7771 g/ml
True density of liquid (from 1 0.7891 2.16 0.876 g/ml
handbook)
Percent error 3.06 17.31 40.12 11.29 %
Part I. Density determination using pycnometer
A. Pycnometric determination using pycnometer

B. Pycnometric determination of solid density

Unit
Weight of empty Pycnometer 24.489 g
7
Weight of Pycnometer with liquid 53.536 g
7
Weight of Pycnometer with solid 26.515 g
0
Weight of Pycnometer with liquid and solid 55.562 g
0
Weight of liquid 29.047 g
0
Weight of solid 2.0253 g
Weight of displacement liquid 0.30 g
Volume of displacement liquid 0.30 ml
Density of solid 6.7510 g/ml
True density of solid (from handbook) 7.86 g/ml
Percent error 14.11 %
Part II. Density determination using Westphal Balance

Type of liquid Temperature Density

Water 26.5°C 0.998 g/ml
Salt Solution 27°C 1.14 g/ml
Tap Water 27°C 1.13 g/ml

7. Computation, Analysis and Interpretation of Data:

Formulae:

 Weight of Liquid
Wt liquid =Wt pycnometer+liquid −Wt pycnometer

 Weight of Liquid in Vacuum

Wt liquid∈vacuum =Wt+ ( 0.0012 )( Wt )

(( 1
ρliquid ) 8.4 ))
− ( 1

 Density of Liquid
mliquid
ρ=
v liquid

 Density of Solid

wt solid
ρ=
v displaced liquid

 Density of Liquid (in westphal balance)

m₁ m₁
ρ= ρ water +(1+ )ρ
m₂ m₂ air
 Percent Error
¿ Actual Value−Experimental Value∨ ¿ ×100
Actual Value
error =¿
Part I.

A. Pycnometric Determination of Liquid Density

 Weight of Liquid:
 Water: 39.8925 – 15.6570 = 24.2355 g
 Ethyl Alcohol: 49.4353 – 26.2929 = 23.1424 g
 Salt Solution: 58.6310 – 26.2929 = 32.3381 g
 Unknown Liquid: 35.0853 – 15.6570 = 19.4283 g

 Density of Liquid
 Water
24.2355 g
ρ= =0.9694 g/ml
25 ml
 Ethyl Alcohol
23.1424 g
ρ= =0.9257 g /ml
25 ml
 Salt Solution
32.3381 g
ρ= =1.2935 g /ml
25 ml
 Unknown Liquid
19.4283 g
ρ= =0.771 g /ml
25 ml

 Weight of Liquid in Vacuum

 Water
1 1
Wt liquid∈vacuum =24.2355+ ( 0.0012 )( 24.2355 ) (( 0.9694) ( ))
−
8.4

¿ 24.2620 g

 Ethyl Alcohol

Wt liquid∈vacuum =23.1424+ ( 0.0012 ) ( 23.1424 ) (( 0.9257

1
)−( 8.41 ))
¿ 23.1691 g
 Salt Solution
 1
Wt liquid∈vacuum =32.3381+ ( 0.0012 )( 32.3381 ) (( 1.2935 )−( 8.41 ))
¿ 32.3635 g

 Unknown Liquid

Wt liquid∈vacuum =19.4283+ ( 0.0012 )( 19.4283 )

(( 1
0.7771) ( ))
−
1
8.4

¿ 19.4555 g
 Percent Error
 Water
¿ 1−0.9694∨ ¿ ×100 =3.06
1
error =¿
 Ethyl Alcohol
¿ 0.7891−0.9257∨ ¿ ×100 =17.31
0.7891
error =¿
 Salt Solution
¿ 2.16−1.2935∨ ¿ ×100 =40.12
2.16
error =¿
 Unknown Liquid
¿ 0.876−0.7771∨ ¿ ×100 =11.29
0.876
error =¿

B. Pycnometric Determination of Solid Density

 Weight of Liquid
Wt liquid =Wt pycnometer+liquid −Wt pycnometer

¿ 53.5367−24.4897
¿ 29.047 0 g

 Weight of Displaced Liquid

Wt displaced liquid =V displaced liquid =0.30

 Density of Object Submerged

 mobject submerged
ρobject submerged=
v displaced liquid

2.0253 g
¿
0.30 ml
¿ 6.7510 g /ml
 Percent Error
¿ 7.86−6.7510∨ ¿ ×100 =14.11
7.86
error =¿

Part II.

 Water

9.5 9.5
ρ=
9.54
(1)+ 1+ (
9.54 )
(1.26 x 10−3 )=0.998 g /ml

 Salt Solution

9.5 9.5
ρ=
8.35
(1)+ 1+ (
8.35 )
(1.26 x 10−3)=1.14 g /ml

 Tap Water

9.5 9.5
ρ=
8.43 (
(1)+ 1+
8.43 )
(1.26 x 10−3)=1.13 g/m l

8. Conclusion and Recommendation:

9. Questions:

1. Illustrate and discuss the following:

a. Aerometer
b. Dasymeter
c. Gas Collecting Tube
d. Hydrometer
e. Westphal Balance
f. Resonant Frequency and Damping Analyser (RFDA)
2. Differentiate and compare specific gravity, relative gravity, specific volume, API gravity,
Baumé scale, Brix scale, Twaddelle scale, Plato scale, Oechsle scale with density
measurement
3. When a 4.9827g object with a density of 8.8937g/ cm3 is dropped into a liquid with a
density of 0.7289 g/ cm3 , what mass of liquid will it displace?
4. One kilogram of iron and one kilogram of brass are suspended from separate balance
scales, each metal submerged fully in water. How do the scale readings compare?
Express your answer as a function of the densities of the two materials.
5. Two overflow cans are filled with different liquids. A wooden block will float in either
liquid. Compare the volumes which overflow when a block is floated in each of the
overflow cans. Relate this to the densities of the liquids. Also compare the overflow
weights.
6. You used a sinker to submerge a piece of cork beneath the water to determine the
cork’s density. Why was it unnecessary to know the density of the sinker?
7. Use Archimedes’ principle to prove the following: “When a body is floating on a liquid, it
displaces a weight of liquid equal to its own weight.”
8. In the construction of a hydrometer is it necessary that the stem have a uniform cross
section?
9. Briefly state the theory underlying the use of a hydrometer for a measurement of
specific gravities.

10. Further readings:

Atkins, P. (2010). Chemical principles: the quest for insight (5th ed.). New York:

W,H, Freeman and Company.

Engel, T., Reid, P. and Hehre, W. (2013). Physical chemistry. Illinois: Pearson Education.

Garland, C. (2009). Experiments in physical chemistry (8th ed.). Boston: McGraw

Hill Co.
Gopala Krishna, V. (2010). Invitation to physical chemistry [computer] computer dataset.
(London:

Imperial College Press.

Jomo Walla, P. (2009). Modern biophysical chemistry. Weinhein: Wiley-VCH.

Roque-Malherbe, R. (2010). The physical chemistry of materials: energy and

environmental applications. Boston: McGraw Hill.

Shillady, D. (2012). Essentials of physical chemistry. Boca Raton: CRC Press.

Trimm, H.(ed.). (2011). Physical chemistry: chemical kinetics and reaction mechanism.
Canada: Apple

Academic Pres.
11. Assessment (Rubric for Laboratory Performance):

TIP–VPAA–054D
TECHNOLOGICAL INSTITUTE OF THE PHILIPPINES

RUBRIC FOR LABORATORY PERFORMANCE

CRITERIA BEGINNER ACCEPTABLE PROFICIENT SCORE

1 2 3
Manipulative Skills Members do not Members Members always
demonstrate needed occasionally demonstrate needed
skills. demonstrate needed skills
skills
Experimental Set-up Members are unable Members are able to Members are able to set-
to set-up the set-up the materials up the material with
materials. with supervision. minimum supervision.
Process Skills Member o not Members occasionally Members always
demonstrate targeted demonstrate targeted demonstrates targeted
process skills. process skills. process skills.
Safety Precautions Members do not follow Members follow safety Members follow safety
safety precautions. precautions most of precautions at all times.
the time.
I. Laboratory Skills

II. Work Habits

Time Management / Members do not finish Members finish ahead Members finish ahead of
Conduct of on time with on time with time with complete data
Experiment incomplete data. incomplete data. and time to revise data.
Cooperative and Members do not know Members have defined Members are on tasks
Teamwork their tasks and have responsibilities most and have defined
no defined of the time. Group responsibilities at all
responsibilities. Group conflicts are times. Group conflicts are
conflicts have to be cooperatively cooperatively managed at
settled by the teacher. managed most of the all times.
time.
Neatness and Messy workplace Clean and orderly Clean and orderly
Orderliness during and after the workplace with workplace at all times
experiment. occasional mess during and after the
during and after the experiment.
experiment.
Ability to do Members require Members require Members do not need to
independent work supervision by the occasional supervision be supervised by the
teacher. by the teacher. teacher.

Evaluated by:

Printed Name and Signature of Faculty Member Date: