Santa Monica College Chemistry 11

The Densities of Solutions and Solids

Objectives

The objectives of this laboratory are as follows:

• To compare the precision of various types of volumetric glassware.
• To determine, and then compare, the densities of regular and diet de-gassed sodas.
• To determine the density of an unknown metal and use this value to identify the metal.
• To use a common spreadsheet program, Microsoft Excel©, to perform graphical analysis of
experimental data.

Background

Density is a fundamental physical property of matter. Physical properties are those

characteristics of a substance that can be determined without changing the chemical identity of
the substance. Other physical properties include melting point and solubility. In general, since
different substances have unique densities, determining the density of an unknown substance
can help identify it. Density is specifically defined as the ratio of a substance’s mass to its
volume:

Mass
Density =
Volume

The S.I. unit of density is kg/m3, but in chemistry it is more often expressed in units of g/cm3 for
solids, and g/mL for liquids and solutions.

In Part A of this lab, a study of density values will be conducted in order to introduce the
concept of precision and the statistical nature of experimental data. Specifically, the density of
water will be determined using measurements obtained from three different types of volumetric
glassware: a buret, a 100-mL graduated cylinder and a volumetric pipet. Multiple
measurements will be performed so that a large ensemble of density values is acquired for each
type of glassware used. Simple statistical analyses of the three data sets will then be carried
out, including calculations of the average density and standard deviation. Note that an average
value ( x ) is defined as the sum (Σ) of each of the measurements (xi) divided by the number of
measurements (N):

x=
∑x i

Standard deviation (s) is defined as:

s=
∑(x i − x )2
N −1

Standard deviation essentially indicates the degree to which a set of measured values deviate
from the average value. Data sets with a wide range of values (for example, see VG 2 data in
the following figure) will have a larger standard deviation and are associated with less precise

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Santa Monica College Chemistry 11

measurements than data sets with a narrow range of values. With this information, the
precision of the measurements obtained using the three types of volumetric glassware can be
compared.

The three density data sets will also be displayed in a Scatter Plot, as shown below:

Density

VG 1 VG 2 VG 3
Volumetric Glassware (VG) Used

Occasionally one or more measurements in a data set will appear not to “fit in” with the others.
This will often be evident upon close examination of a scatter plot. These points are called
outliers – values that occur far outside the range defined by the rest of the measurements. One
rough criterion for identifying an outlier is that it lies beyond two standard deviations from the
average value. Such values may be legitimately excluded from a data set, as they can skew
results to a great extent.

In Part B, the densities of two de-gassed sodas (regular and diet) will be determined and
compared. Here, a buret will be used to dispense precise soda volumes. The masses of
several different volumes of each soda will be measured, and this data will be used to determine
the density of each soda.

This section of the lab will also clearly illustrate the intensive nature of density. An intensive
property is one that is independent of the amount of matter present. This means that a pure
substance will have the same density whether it is a larger sample or a small sample of that
substance. In contrast, an extensive property is one that is dependent on the amount of matter
present. Note that both mass and volume are extensive, however, since density is a ratio of
these properties, density is an intensive property.

In Part C, the density of an unknown metal will be determined, and the metal identified using
this value. Since mass can be more precisely measured than volume (due to the limitations of
the instrumentation available), the technique employed here will involve mass measurements
only. Using a capped glass vial, the following four mass measurements will be obtained:

(A) empty vial (B) vial + metal (C) vial + metal + water (D) vial + water

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Santa Monica College Chemistry 11

The difference in masses A and B is the mass of the metal sample. The volume of the metal is
obtained by taking the difference between the water volumes in C and D. These water volumes
will be calculated using the water masses and the known density of water (see table below).
Although simple, this method can yield density results accurate to 0.1%.

Once the density is determined, this experimental value will be compared to the true densities of
several known metals (obtained from suggested reference sources) in order to identify the
assigned unknown metal. The percent error between this experimental value (EV) and the true
density value (TV) of the metal will also be calculated.

| EV − TV |
Percent Error = × 100
TV

Note that a more accurate experimental value will yield a lower percent error (< 5% is desirable)
than a less accurate value.

Density of Liquid Water Measured for a Range of Temperatures*

Temperature (°C) Density (g/mL)
16 0.9989
17 0.9988
18 0.9986
19 0.9984
20 0.9982
21 0.9980
22 0.9978
23 0.9975
24 0.9973
25 0.9970
26 0.9968
27 0.9965
28 0.9962
29 0.9959

*obtained from the CRC Handbook of Chemistry and Physics, 53rd Edition

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Santa Monica College Chemistry 11

Procedure

Safety

There are no major safety considerations in this lab.

Materials and Equipment

Materials: De-gassed sodas (regular and diet), unknown metal sample.

Equipment: 10-mL volumetric pipet and pipet bulb*, 50-mL buret*, two 50-mL Erlenmeyer
flasks*, 100-mL graduated cylinder, two 100-mL beakers, 50-mL beaker, electronic balance,
capped glass vial, thermometer, wash bottle filled with distilled water.
*Items with an asterisk must be checked out from the stockroom.

Part A: The Precision of Volumetric Glassware

All glassware should be cleaned and rinsed with distilled water before use. Pay special
attention to significant figures in your recorded measurements.

1. Using a medium 100-mL beaker, obtain approximately 50 mL of distilled water from the
supply in the lab.

2. Weigh a small dry 50-mL beaker on an electronic balance, and record this mass.
3. Graduated Cylinder: Fill the 100-mL graduated cylinder with approximately 10 mL of
distilled water, and record the actual volume used. To how many significant figures should
the volume be recorded? Transfer this distilled water into the small pre-weighed beaker,
and measure the combined mass. When finished, empty the distilled water out of the small
beaker, then carefully dry it.
4. Volumetric Pipet: Your instructor will demonstrate the correct use of the volumetric pipet at
the beginning of the lab session. Use the pipet to transfer the exactly 10 mL of distilled
water from the medium beaker into the small pre-weighed beaker. Record the volume used
and the combined mass of the beaker and water. To how many significant figures should
the volume be recorded? Again, empty the water out of the small beaker when finished,
then carefully dry it.
5. Buret: Your instructor will demonstrate the correct use of the buret at the beginning of the
lab session. Fill the buret with the remaining distilled water in your medium beaker and note
the initial buret reading. Then drain approximately 10 mL of this water into the small pre-
weighed beaker. Record the actual volume used (= final – initial buret reading) and the
combined mass of the beaker and water. To how many significant figures should the
volume be recorded?
6. For each of the three sets of data collected (using the graduated cylinder, volumetric pipet
and buret), calculate the density of distilled water to the correct number of significant figures.
Then share your three density values with all the students in your lab section, and record the
results of the entire class on your report form. You should have at least ten density values
for each type of volumetric glassware used in this part of the lab.

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Santa Monica College Chemistry 11

Part B: The Densities of Degassed Sodas

The following procedure should be performed for both a regular soda and a diet soda.

1. A buret will be used to dispense precise volumes of each of the two sodas used. The buret
should first be rinsed with distilled water, and then rinsed with a small quantity of the
relevant soda before filling it with that soda.
2. Using a medium 100-mL beaker, obtain approximately 40 mL of the regular soda from the
stock bottle. Fill the buret with this soda, and record the initial buret reading.

3. Weigh a small dry 50-mL Erlenmeyer flask using an electronic balance, and record this
mass. Then drain approximately 5 mL of the soda from the buret into this flask, and record
the new buret reading. Finally, measure and record the combined mass of the flask and
soda.
4. Next, add an additional 5 mL of soda from the buret to the flask. Again, note the new buret
reading and the new combined mass of the flask and soda. Then repeat this step four more
times. You will have obtained a total of six measurements and used approximately 30 mL of
the soda when you are finished.
5. Now perform the same series of steps 1-4 using the diet soda. Use your second small (dry)
Erlenmeyer flask for this soda.

Part C: The Density of an Unknown Metal

1. Obtain a capped glass vial and an unknown metal sample from your instructor. The cap on
the vial should have a small hole pierced through it. This hole will allow air and excess
water to be expelled from the vial. Record the ID Code of the metal on your report form.
2. All mass measurements are to be performed on an electronic balance, and should be
recorded on your report form. First, weigh the empty, dry capped vial. Then add the entire
sample of your unknown metal to the vial, and weigh it again (with cap).
3. Now fill the vial (with the metal still in it) to the brim with distilled water. Gently tap the vial to
ensure that no air remains between the metal pieces. Place the cap on firmly, pressing out
any air or excess water. Wipe off any drops of water on the outside of the vial, and then
weigh it.
4. Next, remove the metal from the vial and then fill it to the brim with distilled water only.
Place the cap on firmly, wipe off excess water, and weigh.
5. Finally, using your thermometer, measure and record the temperature of the water in the
vial. When finished, dry the metal sample and vial, and return them to your instructor.

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