Density Determination Lab

Jack Murphy Andrew Stetser 20 Sept 2012

Determining the density of various objects was our mission in the course of this lab. At our disposal were a metric ruler, a graduated cylinder, an electronic scale, and a Vernier Caliper to assist in the density calculations. The unknown metal pebbles have a density of 2.63g/cm3 and was concluded to be made of elemental aluminum whose density is 2.70g/cm3. We had a % error of about 2.59%. The densest object was the metal cylinder whose density was 7.62g/cm3 and was most likely made of iron whose density is 7.874g/cm3 and appeared to be rusting. The objective of the density determination lab was to resolve the density of 6 objects given to us. Using different tools available to us, we needed to discover the mass and volume to determine a density. The lab is necessary to know how density is an intensive property and the amount of an object should not affect the outcome of the density. The method of determining the density of an object is invaluable because it can be used to conclude what element or compound it may be. The scientist performing the experiment will be able to use the skills acquired through this lab in all future labs and determination of any substance. The results of the densities of each object should correspond with universally accepted results. The metal

objects are unknown to be either elements or compounds, except for the metal pebbles; therefore, we cannot determine what the acceptable results are for those, but the density of the wood can tell us that it is most likely a piece from a yellow birch tree which has the density of 0.668

Procedure: Materials: Vernier Caliper

The following image displays how to read the Vernier Scale.

The Graduated Cylinder Used to determine the Volume of irregularly shaped object, the graduated cylinder allows the user to measure the difference between the initial volume of water and the final volume to determine the

volume of the object as shown in the following image. Using water, we can correctly determine the Volume knowing that 1mL of water = 1cm3. The reading of a graduated cylinder must be read at the bottom of the meniscus with eye level even with the bottom of the

meniscus.

The Electronic Scale

We used an electronic scale that was set in the unit of grams and displayed 2 decimal places. The scale must be set to 0 before weighing the substance. For example, when determining the mass of the clear fluid, we set the graduated cylinder without the liquid on the scale and pressed TARE, which will set the scale to 0 with the graduated cylinder on it. The mass displayed with the liquid will be the mass of the liquid only.

The 6 objects given were, 1 a wooden block, 2 a metal cube, 3 a metal slab, 4 metal cylinder, 5 metal pebbles, 6 a clear fluid. Using the Vernier Caliper, we measured the 3 dimensions of the wooden block making sure not to repeat the measurement of one side. The length, width, and height were recorded and multiplied on each other (length*width*height) to determine the volume. The block was then placed on the scale after confirming that the scale read 0 without the

block on it. The block was weighed and the mass was recorded. The mass over the calculated volume ( ) will give us the density of

the object. Refer to the results to see the final recordings. The same methods were completed for objects 2 and 3. For object #2, we made sure that the object was a cube by measuring all of the sides. For object #4, the same process was used but the diameter and height were recorded. The Diameter needed to be divided by 2 to give us the radius of the cylinder ( ). The Volume of a Cylinder is

. Therefore, the volume was determined. The same procedure was used to determine the density ( ).

The 5th object were multiple metal pebbles of an elemental metal and we had to conclude which element they were made of. To determine the mass, they were placed on the scale after the scale was TARED and read 0. The mass was recorded. Then, we filled the graduated cylinder to a certain level, enough to completely submerge the object in question, and recorded as the initial level. The SAME pebbles were then placed into the graduated cylinder. The cylinder was then tapped lightly by a pen to dislodge any air bubbles that had adhered to the pebbles. The level of the water was measured with all of

the same pebbles that were weighed in the graduated cylinder. The level was recorded as the final volume. The initial volume was subtracted from the final volume to give us the volume of the pebbles. Knowing that 1mL = 1cm3, we could still get the density in terms of g/cm3. Density was determined as ( ).

For the clear liquid, the empty, dry graduated cylinder was placed on the scale and TARED so that the scale read 0 with the cylinder on it. The liquid was added to the cylinder and was put to an easily discernable level. The mass read on the scale was of the liquid only as the graduated cylinder had been TARED out. The mass was recorded, and the volume was what the liquid filled up to and was recorded. Density of the liquid was determined by .

Results: Wooden Block MASS (grams) LENGTH (cm) WIDTH (cm) HEIGHT (cm) INITIAL VOLUME (mL) FINAL VOLUME (mL) 26.44g 5.79cm 1.9cm 3.6cm --Metal Cube 5.67g 1.28cm 1.28cm 1.28 --Metal Slab 37.99g 8.91cm .64cm 2.55cm --Metal Cylinder 48.15g D=1.28cm r=.64cm 4.91cm --Metal Pebbles 1.97g -------

Clear Fluid 23.14g ------20mL

12mL

---

--2.0972 cm3 2.70 g/cm3

(2.70367)

--14.542cm3

--6.32cm3

12.75 mL .75cm3

20mL 20cm3

VOLUME 39.6036 OF cm3 OBJECT (cm3) DENSITY .668 3) (g/cm g/cm3

(.6676)

2.61g/cm3 7.62g/cm3 2.63g/cm3

(2.6126)

(2.62 )

1.16 g/cm3
(1.157)

Interpretation: The results from determining the mass and the volume of the wooden block led to a reasonable density of 0.668 grams per centimeter3. After exploring the Internet, we found that the wood was most likely made from a yellow birch tree whose density was precisely 0.668 g/cm3. The

metal cube was in fact a cube and came to a density of 2.70 g/cm3, which was consistent with the other metal object of similarities during the lab. For the Metal slab, the mass calculated to be 37.99g, and presented a volume of 14.541cm3 bringing the density to 2.61g/cm3. We concluded, however, that the metal cylinder was made of a far more dense metal than the metal slab, probably Iron (Fe), whose density is 7.874g/cm3, as it also appeared to be rusting, a familiar characteristic of iron. Its density calculated to be about 7.62g/cm3. The metal pebbles were very hard to determine what element they were made of. After several trials with varying amounts and different pebbles, I determined that they were pebbles of Aluminum (Al). Their density calculated to be 2.63g/cm3, which is very close to aluminums density of 2.70g/cm3. That is about a 2.59% error. Percent error is calculated by the following formula (
| |

. Bubbles may

have adhered to the outside of the pebbles causing a large volume reading resulting in a lower density reading. This can raise your percent error determination. Also the pebble may have air bubbles trapped inside which would not affect the mass, but again would affect the volume. The clear fluid was an interesting liquid because overtime the

liquid actually became thicker. At the time of my testing, the liquid had a density of 1.16 g/cm3. For all of these substances, no matter how much of the substance we had, the density should remain the same because it is a ratio of mass to volume; therefore, it is an intensive property which does not rely on how much there is. Mass and volume themselves are extensive properties because they relate to the amount there is at hand, but their ratio is intensive because it should not change. Question #2 in the questions and conclusions states that an unknown metal having a mass of 13.35g is added to a 50 mL graduated cylinder containing 24.6m: of water. The water level rises to 26.1mL. What is the density of the object? The density is 1.00g/cm3. This lab performed in class has taught us that being absolutely precise in determining our answers will lead to consistent results. Many errors can be very simple and we learned to watch out for those errors and not to make them again. The mysterious metal pebbles appeared to be made of elemental aluminum. The densest object we discovered was the metal cylinder. This lab is absolutely vital in determining unknown substances, much like the metal pebbles, because almost everything has a unique density to itself. . The density of water is