Material/ meter Hydrometer Density meter

Petrol 0.775 0.780

Diesel 0.837 0.836
Kerosene 0.785 0.784
Lubricating oil 0.848 0.847

DISCUSSION
 Specific gravity is defined as the ratio of the weight of a volume of the liquid to the
weight of an equal volume of water at the same temperature, it is expressed without units.
The specific gravity of liquid in the oil industry is often measured by some form of
hydrometer that has its special scale. The American Petroleum Institute (API) has adopted a
hydrometer for oils lighter than water for which the scale, referred to as the API scale,

API = 141.5 – 131.5

SG

In this experiment, hydrometer and density meter are used to determine the specific
gravity of petrol, lubricating oil, diesel and kerosene. Hydrometer is assumed as a manual
way because experimenter read the scale at the hydrometer. Density meter is assumed as an
automatic way. This is because the reading of SG for density meter appeared digitally at the
density meter. However, the density meter reading is accurate compared to hydrometer.

As procedure, the materials which are diesel, lubricating oil, kerosene and petrol is
prepared in different measuring cylinder. Then, hydrometer is put slowly into the measuring
cylinder containing oil until the hydrometer is float. After the hydrometer float, then the
reading is taken. There are several hydrometers that are not float in the oil prepared due to its
higher SG. So, the different hydrometer is tested in order to ensure the hydrometer float. The
float is calibrated to float on fresh air so if the oil that are tested has a higher SG, the float
will raise in the liquid and at a lower specific gravity, it will sink lower in the liquid. After
finish using hydrometer, then the density meter is used. A small amount of oil is pour into the
beaker. After that, the density meter sucked the oil 2 times to rinse the inside tube of density
meter. Then, the oil is sucked again and the reading appeared is recorded.

Based on experiment, the reading of SG obtained by hydrometer and density meter is a bit
different. This is because of the human error occurred during the experiment. However, the
sequences of SG is still the same. As for hydrometer, the highest reading of SG goes to
lubricating oil 0.848, followed by diesel, 0.837. then kerosene, 0.785 and lastly petrol 0.775.
For density meter, the highest reading also goes to lubricating oil 0.847, followed by diesel,
0.836, then kerosene 0.784 and lastly petrol, 0.780.
 Theoritically, the SG of lubricating oil is higher than other material because lubricating
oil has a higher molecular weight compared to kerosene, diesel and petrol. The number of
carbon atoms in lubricating oil also higher than kerosene, diesel and petrol. The density of
lubricating oil also the highest. That are the reason why the SG of lubricating oil is the
highest.

As conclusion,the specific gravity of petrol, kerosene, diesel and lubricating oil are
obtained. The lubricating oil has the highest specific gravity followed by diesel, kerosene
and lastly petrol.