The Density of Liquids and an Introduction to Graphing

Purpose:
a. To determine the relationship between the density of a substance and the slope of a graph that
shows the mass of the substance versus the volume
b. Use a linear regression to determine the concentration of a solute from the property value of a
solution.
c. To provide practice in making accurate measurements of volumes and masses
d. To provide experience in the construction and use of graphs involving experimental results.

Introduction:
Density:
In this experiment you will create a standard curve of the percent concentration by weight of
solute, salt, versus its density. Density is density is defined as the mass of a substance per unit volume. The units
we will be using for density are g/mL.

The stock solution will be used to make a series of solutions that are progressively less concentrated. The
density of each will be determined and plotted against its concentration. This type of plot is known as a standard
curve. You will then be provided with a salt solution of unknown concentration and asked to determine its
concentration using the standard curve data.
Solutions:
A solution is a homogeneous mixture of two chemicals in which each chemical retains its
chemical properties. The solute is what gets dissolved, and the solvent is what does the dissolving. Together
they make the solution. In our experiment the salt is the solute and water is the solvent. When a solution is
created the chemicals are not reacting with each other, no bonds are broken or formed. Liquid solutions are the
most common, but they can be found in any state of matter. Metal alloys such as bronze or steel are examples
of solid solutions.
Concentration:
Concentration is a measure of the amount of solute in a given amount of solution. There are
numerous different units for concentration; in this lab we will use percentage solution, also known as weightvolume percent. Percentage solution is the mass of solute in grams dissolved in 100mL of solution.

Materials:
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4 beakers
50 mL graduated cylinder
10 mL graduated cylinder
Ruler
3 sheets of graph paper
Triple beam balance
Disposable Pipette
Erlenmeyer flask of Unknown Solution

Procedure:
A. Density of Solutions A, B, C & D
1. Obtain a clean 10 mL graduated cylinder.
2. Use a triple beam balance to get mass of the graduated cylinder. Record the mass.
3. Add 2mL of solution A to graduated cylinder. (Does not need to be exactly 2mL as long as you
accurately record the volume.) Record volume in Table 1.
4. Use triple beam balance to get mass of graduated cylinder and solution A. Record in Table 1.
5. Add enough of Solution A to increase the volume in the graduated cylinder to 5 mL. Record the
volume in Table 1.
6. Repeat Step 4.
7. Add enough of Solution A to increase the volume to 7 mL. Record volume in Table 1.
8. Repeat Step 4.
9. Add enough of Solution A to increase the volume to 9 mL. Record volume in Table 1.
10. Repeat Step 4.
11. Repeats Steps 3-8 with solutions B, C and D.
12. Graph the data from Table 1. Calculate the slopes for solutions A, B, C and D.
B. Standard Curve
1. Record the densities of Solutions A, B, C and D in Table 2.
2. Graph the data from Table 2, and draw a best fit line.
3. Calculate the slope of the line.
4. Determine the y-intercept.

C. Determination of Unknown Concentration via Linear Regression

1. Obtain an Erlenmeyer flask with an unknown solution. Record which unknown your lab group has.
2. Use a triple beam balance to get mass of the graduated cylinder. Record the mass.
3. Add 2mL of Unknown Soluntion to graduated cylinder. (Does not need to be exactly 2mL as long as
you accurately record the volume.) Record volume in Table 3.
4. Use triple beam balance to get mass of graduated cylinder and Unknown Solution. Record in Table
3.
5. Add enough of Unknown Solution to increase the volume in the graduated cylinder to 5 mL. Record
the volume in Table 3.
6. Repeat Step 4.
7. Add enough of Unknown Solution to increase the volume to 7 mL. Record volume in Table 3.
8. Repeat Step 4.
9. Add enough of Unknown Solution to increase the volume to 9 mL. Record volume in Table 3.
10. Repeat Step 4.
11. Graph the data from Table 3. Calculate the slope for the Unknown Solution.
12. Use the calculated density from the Unknown Solution, the slope from Graph 2, and y-intercept
from graph 2 to calculate the concentration of the Unknown Solution.
D. Clean-up
1. Empty solutions into the sink
2. Rinse and dry the beakers and graduated cylinders. Return them to the cabinet.
3. Return triple beam balance to the group cabinet and goggles to the lab drawer.

Table 1:
Mass of 10.00 mL graduated cylinder ________________
Trials

Volume (mL)

Mass (g)
(Grad Cylinder + Solution)

Mass (g)
(Solution)

Solution A
2 mL
5 mL
7 mL
9 mL
Solution B
2 mL
5 mL
7 mL
9 mL
Solution C
2 mL
5 mL
7 mL
9 mL
Solution D
2 mL
5 mL
7 mL
9 mL

Table 2:
Solution
Solution A
Solution B
Solution C
Solution D

% Concentration

Density

Table 3:
Mass of 10.00 mL graduated cylinder ________________
Trial

Volume (mL)

Unknown Solution
2 mL
5 mL
7 mL
9 mL

Mass (g)
(Grad Cylinder + Solution)

Mass (g)
(Solution)