Lab Report #1:

Specific Gravity of Soils and Moisture Content

This experiment aimed to determine the specific gravity of a soil sample using a pycnometer.
The specific gravity is generally needed to perform additional testing of the soil. The soil
sample was put in a pycnometer, which was then filled with water, taking care to eliminate
air bubbles. The mass of the pycnometer when filled with water and soil, Mpws, was
determined and then the temperature of the soil-and-water mixture was measured. The soil-
and-water mixture was poured onto a pan and then dried in an oven to determine the mass of
solids, Ms. With the temperature of the soil-and-water mixture known, the mass of the
pycnometer when filled with water, Mpw, was found from the calibration of the pycnometer.
Using the acquired data, the specific gravity of soil was computed. The procedure was
repeated for the second trial. The soil sample was found to have a specific gravity of 2.521.

Submitted by: Joanna M. Gamboa

Groupmates:
Arsenio Esteves Jr.
Romano Guerrero Juarez
Robin James Enclona
Christopher Erick Cruz
Ellaine Mary Paglicauan

Date Performed: June 25, 2012

Date Submitted: July 6, 2012

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I. Objectives
This experiment was performed to determine the specific gravity of soil solids that pass
the No. 4 sieve by means of a water pycnometer. Given that the specimen is moist, its
moisture content is determined first.

II. Materials
1. Pycnometer (volumetric flask), with a capacity of 250 mL
2. Balance (with accuracy to 0.01 g)
3. Drying Oven
4. Thermometer
5. Hot Plate or Stove
6. No. 4 Sieve (4.75 mm)
7. Moisture Can
8. Funnel

III. Methodology

Since the soil sample was moist, a portion was placed in a moisture can
and the weight, Wcws, was determined and recorded

The specimen was oven-dried and its weight, Wcs, was determined and
recorded

The moisture content was calculated,

Wcws - Wcs
ω= × 100%
Wcs - Wc

Using the moisture content, the range of wet masses for specific gravity
specimen was calculated,

Wws = 45.96 ± 10.21

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The pycnometer was cleaned and dried and its weight, Wp, was
determined and recorded

The pycnometer was filled with water up to calibration mark, and the
weight of the pycnometer and water, Wpw, is determined and recorded

The calibration temperature, Ti, was determined and recorded to the

nearest 0.01°C

The density of water at calibration temperature, ρw,i, was determined

using Ti and Table 1

The calibrated volume of the pycnometer, Vp, was calculated,

Wpw,i - Wp
Vp =
ρw,i

The soil sample (45 g) was transferred into the empty pycnometer
using the funnel

Water was added until the water level is 1/3 to 1/2 of the depth of the
main body of the pycnometer. The water was agitated until a slurry is
formed

Heat the pycnometer on the stove and let it boil for 15 minutes. The
slurry is agitated regularly to prevent any soil from sticking or drying
onto the glass

The mixture was cooled until its temperature reached Ti

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Water was added up to the calibration mark and the weight of the
pycnometer, water and soil, Wpws, was determined and recorded

The test temperature, Tx, was determined and recorded to the nearest
0.01°C

The weight of the pycnometer and water at the test temperature, Wpw,x,
was calculated,

Wpw,x = Mp - Vp ∙ ρw,x

The weight of a pan, Wd, was determined and recorded. The entire
slurry was transferred into the pan and was oven-dried for at least 16
hrs

The specimen was cooled and the weight of the pan and soil, Wds, was
determined and recorded

The weight of the dry soil, Ws, was calculated,

Ws = Wds - Wd

The correction factor, K, was determined using Tx and Table 1

The specific gravity of the soil at 20°C, G20, is calculated,

KWs
G20 =
Wpw,x - Wpws - Ws

Figure 1. Flow Chart of Experimental Procedure

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 Table 1. Density of Water and Temperature Coefficient (K) for Various Temperatures
Temperature Temperature
Temperature Density Temperature Density
Coefficient Coefficient
(°C) (g/mL) (°C) (g/mL)
(K) (K)
27.0 0.99652 0.99831 28.0 0.99624 0.99803
.1 0.99649 0.99828 .1 0.99621 0.99800
.2 0.99646 0.99825 .2 0.99618 0.99797
.3 0.99643 0.99822 .3 0.99615 0.99794
.4 0.99410 0.99820 .4 0.99612 0.99791
.5 0.99638 0.99817 .5 0.99609 0.99788
.6 0.99635 0.99814 .6 0.99607 0.99785
.7 0.99632 0.99811 .7 0.99604 0.99783
.8 0.99629 0.99808 .8 0.99601 0.99780
.9 0.99627 0.99806 .9 0.99598 0.99777
29.0 0.99595 0.99774 30.0 0.99565 0.99744
.1 0.99592 0.99771 .1 0.99562 0.99741
.2 0.99589 0.99768 .2 0.99559 0.99738
.3 0.99586 0.99765 .3 0.99556 0.99735
.4 0.99583 0.99762 .4 0.99553 0.99732
.5 0.99580 0.99759 .5 0.99550 0.99729
.6 0.99577 0.99756 .6 0.99547 0.99726
.7 0.99574 0.99753 .7 0.99544 0.99723
.8 0.99571 0.99750 .8 0.99541 0.99720
.9 0.99568 0.99747 .9 0.99538 0.99716

IV. Data and Results

Wcws = 50.94 g
Wcs = 50.06 g
Wc = 8.87 g

Wcws - Wcs 50.94 g - 50.06 g

ω= ×100% = ×100%
Wcs - Wc 50.06 g - 8.87 g

ω = 2.136%

Wp = 82.67 g
Wpw,i = 330.44 g
Ti = 28.5 °C

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 Wpw,i - Wp 330.44 g - 82.67 g
Vp = = g
ρw,i 0.99609 mL
Vp = 248.743 mL

Table 2. Experimental data and results of Specific Weight Determination

Trial No.: 1 2

Wpws (g) 357.37 356.66

Tx (°C) 28.5 28

Mass of pycnometer + water at Tx,

330.440 330.477
Wpw,x = Wp + Vp ∙ρw,x

Wd (g) 134.60 124.33

Wds (g) 178.89 167.97

Ws (g) 44.29 43.64

K 0.99788 0.99803

Specific gravity of soil,

𝐾𝑊𝑠 2.546 2.495
𝐺20 =
𝑊𝑝𝑤 ,𝑥 − 𝑊𝑝𝑤𝑠 − 𝑊𝑠

V. Analysis and Discussions

The difference between the two values of specific gravity is 0.051, which is greater than
the acceptable range, 0.03. This renders the test results unusable. This discrepancy is due to
the loss of soil solids in the second trial while removing water that exceeded the calibration
mark.
Another factor that affected the precision of the results was the presence of air bubbles in
the soil-and-water mixture. Despite letting the slurry boil for an appropriate amount of time,
air bubbles in the slurry were not entirely removed. Additional air was also introduced while
adding water up to the calibration mark. The presence of air bubbles decreased the value of
Wpws, thus decreasing the value of the specific gravity. The average of the calculated values of
specific gravity, 2.521, does not fall into any of the ranges listed in Table 3. The value,
however, indicates that the soil sample is composed mainly of halloysite, an aluminosilicate
clay mineral.
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 Table 3. Expected Values for Specific Gravity

Type of Soil Gs
Sand 2.65-2.67
Silty sand 2.67-2.70
Inorganic clay 2.70-2.80
Soils with mica or iron 2.75-3.00
Organic soils Variable, but may be under 2.00

Also, given that the initial weight of the soil sample is 45 g and the moisture content is
2.14%, the expected value of Ws is 44.06 or lower, considering losses. However the actual
value of Ws in the first trial is 44.29. This implies that either the specimen wasn’t oven-dried
for the sufficient amount of time, or additional soil solids were introduced during the course
of the experiment. Since the specimen was oven-dried for more than 16 hours, 19 hours
exactly, the cause is the latter.
Other factors that may have caused errors in the experiment include nonuniform
temperature of the soil-and-water mixture and imprecise weights due to unclean equipment.

VI. Conclusions and Recommendations

The calculated specific gravity of the soil sample is 2.521.
A more efficient method of removing air bubbles should be developed, as the presence of
air bubbles causes the greatest error. More care should be given in adding water to the soil-
and-water mixture, to prevent additional air to be entrapped. Also, more time should be
allotted for letting the specimen reach thermal equilibrium.

VII. References
1. ASTM D854-10. Standard Test Methods for Specific Gravity of Soil Solids by Water
Pycnometer.
2. Liu, Cheng and Jack B. Evett. Soil Properties: Testing, Measurement, and Evaluation.
5th Ed. New Jersey: Prentice-Hall, 2003.
3. Braja M. Das. Principles of Geotechnical Engineering. 4th Ed. Boston: PWS, 1998.