LAB REPORT SKPP 2731

RESERVOIR ENGINEERING LABORATORY

2015/2016 – 02

EXPERIMENT : RELATIVE DENSITY OF GASES

LAB SUPERVISOR : DR. MOULISHREE JOSHI

LAB INSTRUCTOR : MR ROSLAN BIN JAS

SECTION : 01

GROUP NO. : C
GROUP MEMBERS No. Name MATRIC NO.
1. CHA CHONG YEE A14KP0012
2. KATHIGES A/L NADARAJ A14KP0031
3. MOHAMADSHAHMI BIN SHAFEE A14KP0049
4. BARSAM DOLATSHAHI A14KP4003
5. BUKKAPATTANAM THAMEEM BASHA A13KP3002

DATE OF : 18/04/16
PREPARATION
DATE OF : 13/04/16
EXPERIMENT

GRADING SECTION

Criteria Score Comment Total Mark

Cover Sheet
Report Summary
Theory
Experimental Procedures
Raw Data an Analysis
Results and Discussion
Conclusion
References

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Contents

1.0 Summary ....................................................................................................................... 3

2.0 Theory ........................................................................................................................... 3-5

3.0 Experimental Procedure................................................................................................. 5

4.0 Experimental Data and Analysis.................................................................................... 6

5.0 Result and Discussion.................................................................................................... 6-7

5.1 The relative density of gases is determined and a conclusion is made based on

differentiation of molecular weight of gases ..................................................................... . 6-7

5.2 The affect of high temperature toward the gas flowing time and value of gas density.... 7

6.0 Conclusion ...................................................................................................................... 7

7.0 References ....................................................................................................................... 8

8.0 Appendices .................................................................................................................... 8-10

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1.0 SUMMARY
This experiment is all about the relative density of different type of gases. Density is a
physical property of matter, as each element and compound has a unique density associated
with it. The foremost purpose to carry out this experiment is to determine the relative density
of gases. The gases that we used in this experiment were carbon dioxide (CO2), natural gases
vapour, helium gas (He) and compress air. The method from graham law of diffusion is used
to find out the relative density of gases. This method is based on the fact that the time taken
by equal volumes of gases to flow under the same condition through a small orifice is
proportional to the square roots of the densities of gases. We measured the time taken for the
gases flow to get the relative density of gases. The major result of this experiment is to find
the relative density of the gases using compress air. Three reading were taken to avoid the
parallax error, and from this three reading we take the average time taken by equal volumes
of gases to flow, for each gases. Then, compress air was used as a constant to get relative
density of other gases. The formula used to calculate the relative density of the gases is
𝜌 𝑔𝑎𝑠𝑒𝑠 𝑡 2 𝑔𝑎𝑠𝑒𝑠
Relative Density = = . From this experiment we can conclude that is the
𝜌 𝑎𝑖𝑟 𝑡 2 𝑎𝑖𝑟

Carbon Dioxide is denser than Oxygen and Helium. However, the experimental value could
be slightly different than theoretical value due to some unforced random error such as
personal errors take place in the experiment.

2.0 THEORY

𝛿 𝑔𝑎𝑠
γgas =
𝛿 𝑎𝑖𝑟
The density of gas relative to air at the same ambient temperature and pressure can also be
determined by using Effusion Method. In this experiment, the gases had been used were
compressed air, carbon dioxide (CO2), helium (He), and oxygen. Compressed air will be the
controller to compare the density with another gas at the same temperature, pressure and
dampness.
At the same ambient temperature, pressure and dampness, the time taken for each gas
with equal volume to flow through the small orifice is proportional to the square root of each
gas density, as shown by the equation below:-

t ∝ √𝜌 𝑔𝑎𝑠𝑒𝑠

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The relative time of gas flow towards the air flow is shown as below:-
𝑡1 √𝜌 𝑔𝑎𝑠𝑒𝑠
=
𝑡2 √𝜌 𝑎𝑖𝑟

𝑡1 𝜌 𝑔𝑎𝑠𝑒𝑠
( )2∝
𝑡2 𝜌 𝑎𝑖𝑟

𝑡 2 𝑔𝑎𝑠𝑒𝑠
 ρR =
𝑡 2 𝑎𝑖𝑟
where:
t1 = time for the gas flowing out
t2 = time for the air flowing out
 = relative density

ρgas = gas density

ρair = air density

The above method is one of the fast and easy ways to find the value of the gas relative
towards the air at the same ambient temperature, pressure and dampness. Besides, the value
of the relative gas towards the air can also be calculated by using the following method:-
mass
Density =
volume
molecularweight  pressure
=
R  temperature
Wm  P
=
RT
where;
R = gas constant
 gas
So, R 
 air

 Wm  P 
 
 R  T  gas
R 
 Wm  P 
 
 R  T  air

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For each gas, the value of the gas constant, R is same due to the same ambient temperature,
pressure and dampness of each gas. Hence:
Wm gas
R 
Wm air
Notice that at the standard condition or room temperature, the value of the air molecular
weight is 28.96 kg/kmole.
By then, the theoretical value for the molecular weight of the carbon dioxide (CO2),
helium (He), and oxygen are 44.01 kg/kmole, 4.00 kg/kmole and 32.00 kg/kmole
respectively.
This method based on the Graham Law of diffusion. This method based on the fact that the
times taken by equal volumes of gases to flow under the same conditions through a small
orifice are proportional to the square roots of the densities of gases.

𝜌𝑔𝑎𝑠𝑒𝑠 𝑡 2𝑔𝑎𝑠𝑒𝑠
𝑅𝑒𝑙𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑣𝑒 𝑑𝑒𝑛𝑠𝑖𝑡𝑦 = = 2
𝜌𝑎𝑖𝑟 𝑡 𝑎𝑖𝑟

Where t = time taken by equal volumes of gases to flow, (second).

3.0 EXPERIMENTAL PROCEDURES

1. Initially, the outer cylinder is filled with water at normal temperature and the side cock is
opened to let the water enter in the measuring tube until the level arrives above the upper
mark of the measuring tube.
2. Next, the central 3-way cock is closed and the air is blown through the side cock until the
water reaches the lower mark on the measuring tube.
3. After few minutes equilibrating the water and insufflate aim temperature. The 3-way
stopcock is opened and let higher water level flow through the calibrated orifice from the
lower to the upper mark and the elapse time is taken.
4. The test is repeated for 3 times at the same temperature. The measuring tube is cleaned
with the gas to be tested in order to check the calibrated orifice.
5. After that, the average is calculated through the obtained value, according the number of
tests carried out.

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4.0 EXPERIMENTAL DATA AND ANALYSIS
Sample 1 ( Compressed Air )
𝑇1+𝑇2+𝑇3
Average of time taken (s) =
3
302+290+308
=
3

= 300.00
𝑡 2 𝑔𝑎𝑠𝑒𝑠
Gas Gravity =
𝑡 2 𝑎𝑖𝑟
(300) 2
= (300) 2

= 1.0000

Table 1: Time taken for the water level to flow from lower until upper mark
Time(s)
Gas Gas Gravity
1 2 3 Average
Compressed Air 302 290 308 300.00 1.0000
Carbon Dioxide 355 377 364 365.33 1.4830
Oxygen 338 295 320 317.67 1.1213
Helium 278 307 290 291.67 0.9452

5.0 RESULT AND DISCUSSION

5.1 The relative density of gases is determined and a conclusion is made based on
differentiation of molecular weight of gases used.
Throughout the experiment we obtained the value of gas gravity for 3 difference gases with
the condition that compressed gas acts as constant so the value for gas gravity of compressed
gas is 1. After that, the result we obtained for gas gravity of carbon dioxide is 1.4830, oxygen
is 1.1213 and helium is 0.9452.

𝑤𝑚 𝑔𝑎𝑠
Through the following equation: 𝜌𝑅 = we able to relate the relative density and
𝑤𝑚 𝑎𝑖𝑟

molecular weight. Theoretically molecular weight of air is 28.96 kg/kmole, carbon dioxide is
44.01kg/kmol, oxygen is 32.00kg/kmol and helium is 4.00kg/kmol. Thus, we able to calculate
the theoretical value for relative density of each gas using the stated equation. The result
obtained for relative density for carbon dioxide is 1.518, followed by oxygen 1.105 and
helium 0.138. Hence, we can conclude that the relative density of gases is directly

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proportional with the molecular weight of the particular gases. And the greater the molecular
weight the higher its gas gravity. In this case, molecular weight of carbon dioxide is larger
than molecular weight of helium, same goes with their gas gravity.

5.2 The affect of high temperature toward the gas flowing time and value of gas density.
When the experiment is conducted at high temperature, the gas flowing time will decrease as
the increase of temperature affect the increase of volume of the gas. This is due to Charles
𝑉1 𝑇1
Law, = .When the volume of the gas increase, the value of gas density will decrease.
𝑉2 𝑇2

6.0 CONCLUSION
Density defined in a qualitative manner as the measure of the relative "heaviness" of objects
with a constant volume. For gases the density may vary with the number of gas molecules in
a constant volume. From this experiment we can say that oxygen, helium and carbon dioxide
obey Graham Law of diffusion which explains the relative velocity of the molecules of the
gases under constant temperature and pressure is inversely proportional to the square root of
their densities. This is done by having compressed air as the constant variable :

𝜌𝑔𝑎𝑠𝑒𝑠 𝑡 2 𝑔𝑎𝑠𝑒𝑠
Relative Density = =
𝜌𝑎𝑖𝑟 𝑡 2 𝑎𝑖𝑟

In this experiment, we assume that the density of compressed air is a constant unit and several
density of gases are compared to the density of compressed air to calculate the relative
density of gases. From the experiment, it is found that helium took little time compared to
carbon dioxide to raise the water level from bottom line to upper line. Thus, the relative
density of helium which is 0.9452 is also less than relative density of carbon dioxide which
recorded 1.4830. On the other end, the molecular weight of carbon dioxide is larger than
helium. Therefore, we can conclude that the relative density of gases is directly proportional
with the molecular weight of the particular gases. With the safety measures and ventures to
minimize the mistakes, the exploratory results are substantial and acknowledged.

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7.0 REFERENCES

1. Bettin, H.; Spieweck, F.: (1990). Die Dichte des Wassers als Funktion der Temperatur
nach Einführung des Internationalen Temperaturskala von 1990 (in German). PTB=Mitt. 100.
pp. 195–196

2. ASBC Methods of Analysis Preface to Table 1: Extract in Wort and Beer, American
Society of Brewing Chemists, St Paul, 2009

3. Dana, Edward Salisbury (1922). A text-book of mineralogy: with an extended treatise on

crystallography... New York, London (Chapman Hall): John Wiley and Sons. pp. 195–200,
316

4. Fox, R. W.; McDonald, A. T. (2003). Introduction to Fluid Mechanics (4th Ed.).

Wiley.pp.326-336

8.0 APPENDICES

8.1 Example of calculation ( Table 1)

By using the following equations:

𝑡1 + 𝑡2 + 𝑡3
𝐴𝑣𝑒𝑟𝑎𝑔𝑒 𝑇𝑖𝑚𝑒 =
3
𝑡𝑎𝑣𝑒𝑟𝑎𝑔𝑒 𝑜𝑓 𝑔𝑎𝑠 2
𝐺𝑎𝑠 𝐺𝑟𝑎𝑣𝑖𝑡𝑦 =
𝑡𝑎𝑣𝑒𝑟𝑎𝑔𝑒 𝑜𝑓 𝑐𝑜𝑚𝑝𝑟𝑒𝑠𝑠𝑜𝑟 𝑎𝑖𝑟 2
𝑤𝑚 𝑔𝑎𝑠
𝜌𝑅 =
𝑤𝑚 𝑎𝑖𝑟

Compressor Air
302 + 290 + 308
𝐴𝑣𝑒𝑟𝑎𝑔𝑒 𝑇𝑖𝑚𝑒 =
3
= 300.00𝑠
300.002
𝐺𝑎𝑠 𝐺𝑟𝑎𝑣𝑖𝑡𝑦 =
300.002
= 1.0000

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 Carbon Dioxide
355 + 377 + 364
𝐴𝑣𝑒𝑟𝑎𝑔𝑒 𝑇𝑖𝑚𝑒 =
3
= 365.33𝑠
365.332
𝐺𝑎𝑠 𝐺𝑟𝑎𝑣𝑖𝑡𝑦 =
300.002
= 1.4830
44.01
𝜌𝑅 =
28.96
= 1.518

Oxygen
338 + 295 + 320
𝐴𝑣𝑒𝑟𝑎𝑔𝑒 𝑇𝑖𝑚𝑒 =
3
= 317.67𝑠
317.672
𝐺𝑎𝑠 𝐺𝑟𝑎𝑣𝑖𝑡𝑦 =
300.002
= 1.1213
32.00
𝜌𝑅 =
28.96
= 1.105

Helium
278 + 207 + 290
𝐴𝑣𝑒𝑟𝑎𝑔𝑒 𝑇𝑖𝑚𝑒 =
3
= 291.67𝑠
291.672
𝐺𝑎𝑠 𝐺𝑟𝑎𝑣𝑖𝑡𝑦 =
300.002
= 0.9452
4.00
𝜌𝑅 =
28.96
= 0.138

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Figure 1: Schilling Effusiometer

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