Hydrometer Analysis

Introduction:
If the size of the soil particles are smaller than 0.075 mm, it is very difficult to use sieving to
separate the particles. Therefore, hydrometer is used for obtaining particle size distribution of soil
smaller than 0.075 mm. Settlement of soil particles from a suspension depends on the size of the
soil particles. Therefore, settlement of the soil particles from a suspension is used to obtain the
particle size distribution.
Objectives:

Determination of the distribution of particle sizes finer than 0.075 mm (75 m) by a

sedimentation process using a hydrometer.

Apparatus:
1. A balance sensitive to 0.01 g.
2. Stirring Apparatus. Either a mechanically operated stirring device or an air jet dispersion
apparatus.
3. Hydrometer. An ASTM 151 H or 152 H (or any other standard) type hydrometer
graduated to read the grams per litre in suspension and confirming to the requirements of
the corresponding standard.
4. Sedimentation Cylinder. A glass cylinder 457 mm in height and 63.5 mm in diameter, and
marked for a volume of 1000 ml.
5. Thermometer accurate to 0.50 C.
6. Dispersing Agent. A solution of Sodium Hexametaphospate shall be used in distilled or
demineralised water, at the rate of 40 g of Sodium Hexametaphospate/litre of solution.

Figure-1 Hydrometer

Procedure:
1. Soil passing 0.425 mm sieve is used for the test but the sample should not be oven dried.
2. Therefore, a portion from the same soil is oven dried to obtain the moisture content of the
soil sample.
3. Then, the dry weight of the sample used for the test is corrected using that moisture
content.
4. About 50 g of this soil is accurately weighted and 125 ml of Sodium Hexametaphospate
solution (40g/litre) is added.
5. Mixture is thoroughly wetted and be allowed to soak for at least 16 hours.
6. The soaked sample is transferred to a dispersion cup and sample is further dispersed using
a mechanical stirring apparatus after adding a suitable amount of water.
7. After dispersion, soil-water slurry is transferred to a sedimentation cylinder and distilled
or demineralised water is added to until the total volume is 1000 ml.
8. Using the palm of the hand over the open end of the cylinder, cylinder shall be shaken
vigorously by turning it up side down and back for a period of about 1 minute.
9. Thereafter the cylinder is placed in a convenient location to take hydrometer readings
using a hydrometer shown in Figure-1.
10. Readings are taken at 0.5 min, 1 min, 2 min, 4 min, 8 min, 15 min, 30 min, 1 hr, 2 hrs, 4
hrs, 8 hrs, 16 hrs, and 24 hrs.
11. The hydrometer should be slowly removed after the reading at 4 min, rinsed in water and
kept in a cylinder of distilled or demineralized water.
12. When it is required to take the hydrometer reading, the hydrometer should be carefully
inserted about 30 45 secs before the reading is due.
13. Immediately after taking the reading, the hydrometer should be carefully removed and
placed back in the cylinder with distilled or demineralized water.
14. Correction of hydrometer readings should be carried out. When the hydrometer reading is
taken, it should be taken at the bottom of the meniscus. However, due to the soil
suspension, it is practically not possible to do so. Therefore, the reading of the
Hydrometer is taken at the top of the meniscus and a meniscus correction (C m) is applied
as show in Figure-2.

Figure 5 Meniscus and dispersing agent correction factors

15. This correction is obtained by taking the reading at the top and bottom of the meniscus
after immersing the hydrometer in an identical solution (in cylinder 2), which is prepared
without soil.
16. The difference between the top and bottom readings is the meniscus correction (Cm).
17. Similarly, the dispersing agent correction (C d) is also obtained by taking the reading in
cylinder2.
Observation:

Please see Annex-1.

Calculations and result:

Let RH' is the uncorrected hydrometer reading, RH, the hydrometer reading after
application of the meniscus correction may be obtained by:
RH = RH' + Cm
The corrected hydrometer reading after application of both corrections may be obtained
by:
R = RH - Cd = RH' - ( Cd Cm)

Percentage of particles remaining in suspension;

The percentage of soil particles remaining in suspension at the level at which the
hydrometer is measuring density of the suspension may be calculated as;
P = Ra x 100 %
W
Where;
P - Percentage of soil remaining in suspension at the level at which the hydrometer is
measuring the density of the suspension.
a Correction to be applied due to the variation of the specific gravity of the particles.
R Hydrometer reading after application of both the corrections.
W Oven dry mass of the soil in the suspension after applying the hygroscopic
correction.

Diameter of soil particles

The diameter (D) of the particles at the level, where hydrometer is measuring density is given by:
D=K L
t
Where
K Constant depending on the temperature of the suspension and the specific gravity of
the soil particles.

L Value of L can be obtained from a table provided with the hydrometer.

Calculations and result for carried out test is given in Annex-1, Annex-2 and Annex-3.

Discussion:
1) a. What are the reasons for adding a dispersing agent for hydrometer analysis?

b. Discuss a method to make a link in-between hydrometer analysis and sieve analysis of a
given sample.

2) a. Discuss the standard conditions to carry out a hydrometer analysis in a given soil
sample.

b. Discuss the reasons for performing a hydrometer analysis in highway projects.