EXPERIMENT #1

DENSITY OF SOLIDS AND LIQUIDS

Introduction
Density is one of the fundamental properties of any matter. This is determined by dividing the mass of
a given sample by its volume:
𝑚𝑎𝑠𝑠 (𝑚)
𝐷𝑒𝑛𝑠𝑖𝑡𝑦 𝜌 =
𝑣𝑜𝑙𝑢𝑚𝑒 (𝑉)
The density of water is as a function of temperature is as follow:
Temperature Density
30 °C 0.9957 g/mL
25 °C 0.9970 g/mL
4 °C 1.0000 g/mL
0 °C 0.9998 g/mL

Volumes of liquid are easily determined by using a calibrated container. In the laboratory, we often
use a graduated cylinder.
Volumes of solids can be determined by direct measurement provided that the solid has a regular
geometrical shape, such as a cube or a cylinder. On the other hand, volumes of irregularly shaped
solids such as a small rock or a small chunk of metal are determined by liquid volume displacement.
This is done by immersing the sample in a liquid of known volume and measuring the volume of liquid
displaced by the solid.

In this experiment, the density of a liquid and a solid will be determined

Materials
Graduated cylinder, triple beam balance, unknown liquid, unknown metal, 5 one peso coin

Procedures
A Density of Unknown Metal
1. Weigh an unknown sample of metal using a digital scale or a triple beam balance.
2. Fill a graduated cylinder with 10 ml of water.
3. Record the initial reading of water.
4. Carefully place the unknown sample of metal in the cylinder containing water and record the rise in
the level of water.
5. Record the volume of the unknown metal.
6. Calculate the density of the unknown metal.
7. Identify the unknown metal by comparing the calculated density with the density of known metals.
(See table of densities)

B. Density of a Coin
1. Weigh separately five one-peso coins.
2. Get the sum, and then calculate the average weight of the coin.
3. Stack the 5 coins on top of one another forming a cylinder.
4. Measure the diameter and the height of the cylinder.
5. Calculate the volume of the cylinder formed using the formula V=pr2h.
6. Determine the volume of 1 coin using the calculated volume of the cylinder.
6. Using the average weight of the coins and the volume of a coin, calculate the density of the coin.
Identify the metal/alloy material of the coin based on the density calculated.

C. Density of Liquid
1. Weigh a dry, clean, empty graduated cylinder. Record your measurement
2. Fill it carefully with the unknown liquid sample up to the maximum graduation of the graduated
cylinder. This is the volume of the liquid.
3. Weigh the graduated cylinder with the unknown liquid sample. Make sure the side of the cylinder is
dry. Record your measurement.
4. Get the difference of the mass recorded in steps 1 and 3.
5. Calculate the density of the liquid, and identify the unknown liquid.
EXPERIMENT #1
DENSITY OF SOLIDS AND LIQUIDS

Section: ___________ Members: __________________________ __________________________

Group #: __________ __________________________ __________________________

Data, Results and Calculations:

A. Density of Unknown Metal (Irregular Solids)
TRIAL 1 TRIAL 2
Mass of unknown metal
Volume of water
Volume of water + metal
Volume of metal
Density of metal
Identity of the unknown metal is _____________________

B. Density of a Coin (Regular Solids)

TRIAL 1 TRIAL 2
Mass of Coin 1
Mass of Coin 2
Mass of Coin 3
Mass of Coin 4
Mass of Coin 5
Average Mass (5 Coins)
Diameter of Cylinder
Height of Cylinder
Volume of Cylinder
Volume of a Coin
Density of the Coin

C. Density of Unknown Liquid

TRIAL 1 TRIAL 2
Mass of empty graduated cylinder
Mass of graduated cylinder + unknown liquid
Mass of unknown liquid
Volume of unknown liquid
Density of unknown liquid
Questions & Answers
1 What are the uncertainty of the measuring devices used in the experiment?
a. Triple Beam Balance/Weighing Scale ± _________
b. Graduated Cylinder ± _________
c. Ruler ± _________
Use these values in reporting your experimental data.
2 The density of a solid substance is usually higher than its density in liquid form. Explain
then why ice (a solid) floats on top of water (a liquid).

3 Explain the difference between precision and accuracy.

Solve the following problem:

4 A student weighed a clean and dry beaker and found its mass to be 53.6 g. She then
poured chloroform in the beaker and then measured the total mass to be 74.8 g. Help
the student identify the volume of the liquid poured into the beaker.

5 A student immersed an 62.4 g of unknown metal sample in a graduated cylinder

containing 20 mL of water. She noted the water level to rise to 28 mL. From these data,
help the student identify the unknown metal.