EXPERIMENT NO.

MEASUREMENT OF DENSITY

One of the intensive properties of matter is density. It is defined as the ratio of mass and volume.
For solids and liquids, density changes with changing temperature and pressure. However, the
change may be considered negligible making them incompressible. For gases, changes in
temperature and pressure will cause a considerable change in its density. Specific gravity is the
ratio of the density of a substance and the density of a reference substance. Water at 4°C makes
the density of a substance numerically equal to its specific gravity for both solids and liquids. At
this temperature, the density of water is 1 g/mL. For gases, air is used as a reference substance.

Density of Some Liquids

Compound SG20°C/4°C Compound SG20°C/4°C Compound SG20°C/4°C
Acetone 0.791 Benzene 0.879 Glycerol 1.26050°C
CCl4 1.595 Methanol 0.892 (C2H5)2O 0.70825°C
Toluene 0.866 Ethanol 0.789 Butane 0.579

Densities of liquids may be measured by simply determining the mass of a

known volume of liquid. Some volume measuring devices may be used like
graduated cylinders and pipettes. Another device used to measure density is the
pycnometer. It is a special glass flask which is used for determining a relative
density of liquids. The bottle has a special glass stopper. The stopper has a hole
which allows liquid to overflow as the stopper is inserted so that it ensures an
accurate full fill every time. The bottle is weighed dry and filled with the liquid.
The procedure is repeated for another liquid and the density of the liquids is
compared.

For specific gravity measurements, Westphal Balance or Mohr’s Balance is used. This is used to
measure liquid densities heavier and lighter than water. A plummet is suspended from the beam
and placed in a cylinder containing the liquid sample. It works on the principle that the plummet
on the balance will be buoyed by the weight of liquid equal to the volume displaced. Riders are
placed on the beam in succession until the beam balances.

In this experiment, the densities of various liquids are determined using different methods and
the effect of solute concentration to density is evaluated.
 EXPERIMENT NO. 3

MEASUREMENT OF DENSITY

PRELAB EXERCISES

NAME: _________________________________________ DATE: _________________

PROFFESOR: ____________________________________ SCORE: ________________

1. Differentiate density and specific gravity.

2. What are the SI and AES units for density?

3. If the specific gravity of a substance is 1.15, determine its density in lbm/ft3.

4. What are the factors affecting the density of gases?

5. Describe how density is measured in a pycnometer and a chain balance.

 EXPERIMENT NO. 3
MEASUREMENT OF DENSITY

Objectives:
1. To determine the density and specific gravity of liquids.
2. To be familiar with the use of Westphal balance and pycnometer.
3. To determine the effect of concentration of solute in the density of solutions.

Apparatus:
1. Pycnometer
2. Westphal Balance
3. Graduated Cylinder – 10 mL
4. Test Tubes
5. Analytical Balance

Reagents:
1. Distilled Water
2. 30 ml Ethyl Alcohol
3. 30 ml Ethyl Acetate
4. 30 ml Methyl Alcohol
5. 30 ml Liquid sucrose

Procedure:

A. Measurement of Mass and Volume

1. Weigh an empty, dry and clean graduated cylinder (10 mL) using an analytical balance.
2. Add 10 mL of the compound to be tested and weigh.
3. Measure the temperature of the liquid in the graduate cylinder.
4. Calculate the weight of the liquid sample of known volume and compute for its density.
5. Repeat using other liquid samples.

B. Measurement of Specific Gravity using Westphal Balance

1. Check the balance if it is level by adjusting the leg support until the bubble in the level
indicator is at the center.
2. Fill the cylinder with the liquid allowing the liquid to flow along the side of the container
to avoid formation of bubbles.
3. Place the plummet on the hook and carefully immerse it in the cylinder filled with the
liquid sample.
4. Unrest the arrest knob and place the rider on the notch of the balance.
5. Move the rider just before the pointer swings fully to the right.
6. Adjust the chain until the pointer points to the middle.
7. Read the specific gravity.
8. Repeat using other liquid samples.
C. Measurement of Density using the Pycnometer
1. Weigh an empty, dry and clean pycnometer. Be sure to include the cover in weighing.
Caution: In drying the pycnometer, do not include the cover.
2. Fill the pycnometer with distilled water until it overflows. Cover it, wipe the spilled
liquid completely and weigh.
3. Read the temperature. Determine the density from a table according to the temperature
read.
4. Calculate the volume of water based from the density and mass of the liquid in the
pycnometer. The volume of water is also the volume of the pycnometer.
5. Repear the above procedures for other liquid samples.

D. Effect of Solute Concentration to Density

1. Prepare 30 ml solutions of methanol, ethanol and sucrose with the following
concentrations: 10%, 30%, 50%, 70% and 90%.
2. Determine the density using the pycnometer and record its temperature.
3. Plot the density (g/mL) versus solute concentration.
4. From the plot, determine the density of pure methanol and ethanol.

Disposal of Chemicals
1. Place solutions in appropriately labeled containers.
2. Sucrose solutions may be disposed directly to the sink.
 EXPERIMENT NO. 3
MEASUREMENT OF DENSITY

PRELIMINARY DATA SHEET

Date: _______________ Score: _______

Group No.: __________

SIGNATURE

Leader: ________________________________ ___________________________

Members: _________________________________ __________________________

_________________________________ __________________________

_________________________________ _________________________

I. Measurement of Mass and Volume

COMPOUND

Mass of empty container (grams)

Temperature of liquid sample (°C)
Volume of Liquid Sample (mL)
Mass of empty container + liquid (grams)
Mass of liquid sample (grams)
Density of liquid sample (g/mL)

II. Measurement of Specific Gravity using Westphal Balance

COMPOUND

Temperature (°C)
Specific Gravity

III. Measurement of Density using Pycnometer

Mass of empty pycnometer grams
Mass of pycnometer + water grams
Temperature of water °C
Mass of water grams
Density of water g/mL
Volume of water = volume of pycnomter g/mL
 COMPOUND

Mass of pycnometer + liquid (grams)

Temperature of liquid sample (°C)
Volume of liquid sample (mL)
Mass of liquid sample (grams)
Density of liquid sample (g/mL)

IV. Effect of Solute Concentration to Density of Solutions

Solute Concentration COMPOUND
(%wt)
10%
30%
50%
70%
90%

Approved by: ____________________

PROFESSOR

Guide Questions and Problems

1. Discuss the possible sources of errors in the experiment.

2. Is it possible to determine the density of liquids at high temperature using

Pycnometer?