SPECIFIC GRAVITY OF SOIL

Experiment No. 4

OBJECTIVE

The experiment is performed to determine the specific gravity of soil by using a

pycnometer. Specific gravity is the ratio of the mass of unit volume of soil at a stated
temperature to the mass of the same volume of gas-free distilled water at a stated
temperature.

Standard reference:

ASTM D 854-00 – Standard Test for Specific Gravity of Soil Solids by Water
Pycnometer

APPARATUS AND SUPPLIES

Pycnometer Jar
#10 Sieve with Pan and Cover
Dropper
Mortar and Pestle
Spatula
2 Circular Pans
Oven
Balance

PROCEDURE

1. Determine and record the weight of the pycnometer filled with 500 ml of water,
WA.

2. Place 50g of an oven dried soil sample (passed through the No. 10 sieve) in the
pycnometer. Remember to remove an amount of water to the pycnometer before
placing the 50g soil sample.

3. Fill the pycnometer with distilled water to the mark, which is 500ml, clean the
exterior surface of the pycnometer with a clean, dry cloth.

4. Determine the weight of the pycnometer and contents (water + soil sample), WB.

5. Empty the pycnometer and clean it. Clean the exterior surface of the pycnometer
with a clean, dry cloth.

6. Compute and record the specific gravity of the soil sample.

Specific Gravity of Soil
ANALYSIS

Calculate the specific gravity of the soil solids using the following
formula:

Specific Gravity, Gs = Wo_______

Wo + (WA – WB)

Where:
Wo = weight of oven dry sample
WA = weight of pycnometer filled with water
WB = weight of pycnometer + water + soil

Table 4.1. Specific Gravity of Soil Sample

Trial 1 2 3 4 5 6
Wo, g
WA, g
WB, g
Specific Gravity, GS
Average Specific Gravity

COMPUTATIONS

REMARKS

REFERENCE/S