Density of Freshwater and Seawater

Rosanna I. Ramos
Bachelor of Science Major in Biology – Department of Biology, University of San Carlos, Cebu City,
Philippines, 6000
ramos0719200@gmail.com

Abstract
This paper is a student laboratory experiment concerning about the density of each water sample.
Density of a substance is the relationship between the mass of the substance and how much space
it takes up. It aims to determine the density and temperature of freshwater and seawater sample.
The sample was weighed using analytical balance and was calculated using mass per unit volume.
The result of the experiment gave an average of 0.976 g/mL in fresh water sample and 1.0097 g/mL
in seawater sample. The seawater therefore, is slightly denser than freshwater as it is more saline
in comparison.

I. Introduction
Water is the most abundant compound on Earth, and covers about 97% of the planet’s water.
The density of seawater plays a vital role in causing ocean currents and circulating heat because of the fact
that dense water sinks below less dense. What is density? Density of a substance is the relationship between
the mass of the substance and how much space it takes up.
Some factors that affects the density of water is depth, temperature, and Salinity. Depth affects
density as the water molecules pack together tighter as pressure increases -the pressure increase with depth,
due to the weight of the water above, and causes the greatest density changes in seawater with depth.
Temperature is also a factor as substances tend to expand as they are heated, causing the same mass to
occupy a greater volume, and thus lowering the density. For most solids, this expansion is relatively small,
but it is far from negligible; for liquids, it is greater. The volumes of gases, as you may already know, are
highly temperature-sensitive, and so, of course, are their densities.
Salinity is the measure of all salts dissolve in water it also contributes to the density of water for
they share a positive relationship. As density increases, the amount of salts in the water—also known as
salinity, increases. Adding salt to the water increases the density of the solution because the salt increases
the mass without changing the volume very much.
In addition, the Dead Sea is so dense because it contains a high concentration of salt that reaches
34% than the normal concentration of salt which is 3.5%. The extremely high concentration of dissolved
mineral salts in the water causes the water to be denser than that of plain fresh water. Since our body weight
is lighter (less dense) than the density of the water, our body is more buoyant in the Dead Sea, making it
easy to float.
To determine the density of fresh water and seawater sample it can be calculated by the dividing
the mass by the volume, so that density is measured as units of mass/volume, often g/mL.
II. Methodology
In this experiment the density was determined by filling one volumetric flask with fresh water to
half of its capacity, then measure and record the temperature of the water using thermometer. After that
it was filled up to the mark and was labeled freshwater. The same procedure is used to normal seawater
by getting its temperature and was also labeled to be recognized. The two flasks are then weighed in an
analytical balance, and the weights of the two flasks containing the water sample are recorded as the
trial 1. Then the two flasks were emptied into two separate evaporating dish, and evaporate it to near
dryness to observe the residues from the fresh and seawater. The procedure is again repeated to get the
data for trial 2 and trial 3. After getting the data of the two samples for trials 1,2 and 3, the two flasks
were cleaned and dried inside and out and are again weighed in an analytical balance, three times, in
intervals of 30 minutes.

Using the data generated the density for Fresh water is calculated through the following equations:

Let: M1 = Mass Vf ; M2 = Mass Vf + H2O

Trial 1:
Given: = M2= 21.75 g; M1= 12.04 g
Formula: Mass H2O = M2 - M1 Density = Mass/ Volume
Solution:
𝑚
Mass H2O = M2 - M1 D=
𝑣
= 21.75 g – 12.04g D = 9.71g/ 10.0 mL = 0.971 g mL
Mass H2O = 9.71 g

Trial 2:
Given: = M2 = 21.7187 g; M1 = 11.7747g
Formula: Mass H2O = M2 - M1 Density = Mass/ Volume
Solution:
𝑚
Mass H2O = M2 - M1 D=
𝑣
= 21.7187 g – 11.7747g D = 9.9440g/ 10.0 mL = 0.994 g mL
Mass H2O = 9.9440 g

Trial 3:
Given: = M2 = 21.7099 g; M1 = 12.0831g
Formula: Mass H2O = M2 - M1 Density = Mass/ Volume
Solution:
𝑚
Mass H2O = M2 - M1 D=
𝑣
= 21.7099 g – 12.0831g D = 9.6268g/ 10.0 mL = 0.963 g mL
Mass H2O = 9.6268g
Fresh water (With 3 trials)

Average = T1 + T2 + T3 = 0.971+ 0.994 + 0.963 = 0.976 g/mL

3 3
SD = √ (x1 –x)2 + (x2 –x)2 + (x3 –x)2
n-1
= √ (0.971 – 0.976)2 + (0.994–0.976)2 + (0.963 –0.976)2
3-1
SD = 0.016093476
%rsd = 0.016093476/ 0.976 = 1.65%

Using the data generated the density for Seawater is calculated through the following equations:

Let: M1 = Mass Vf ; M2 = Mass Vf + H2O

Trial 1:
Given: = M2= 22.13 g; M1= 12.24 g
Formula: Mass H2O = M2 - M1 Density = Mass/ Volume
Solution:
𝑚
Mass H2O = M2 - M1 D=
𝑣
= 22.13. g – 12.24g D = 9.89g/ 10.0 mL = 0.989 g mL
Mass H2O = 9.89 g

Trial 2:
Given: = M2 = 22.2285 g; M1 = 12.0523g
Formula: Mass H2O = M2 - M1 Density = Mass/ Volume
Solution:
𝑚
Mass H2O = M2 - M1 D=
𝑣
= 22.2285 g – 12.0523g D = 10.1765/ 10.0 mL = 1.02 g mL
Mass H2O = 10.1762 g

Trial 3:
Given: = M2 = 22.2641g; M1 = 12.0722g
Formula: Mass H2O = M2 - M1 Density = Mass/ Volume
Solution:
𝑚
Mass H2O = M2 - M1 D=
𝑣
= 21.7099 g – 12.0831g D = 10.1919/ 10.0 mL = 1.02 2g mL
Mass H2O = 10.1919g
 Seawater (With 3 trials)

Average = T1 + T2 + T3 = 0.989+ 1.02 + 1.02 = 1.0097 g/mL

3 3
SD = √ (x1 –x)2 + (x2 –x)2 + (x3 –x)2
n-1
= √ (0.989 – 1.0097)2 + (1.02–1.0097)2 + (1.02 –1.0097)2
3-1
SD = 0.017897904
%rsd = 0.017897904/ 1.0097 = 1.77%

III. Results and Discussion

Table 1: Density of Fresh water and Normal Seawater

Parameter Fresh water Normal Seawater

T1 T2 T3 T1 T2 T3
Mass 9.17g 9.9440g 9.6268g 9.89g 10.1762g 10.1919g
Volume 10.0mL 10.0mL 10.0mL 10.0mL 10.0mL 10.0mL

Temperature 30⁰C 30⁰C 30⁰C 30⁰C 30⁰C 30⁰C

Density 0.971g/mL 0.994 g/mL 0.963g/mL 0.989g/mL 1.018g/mL 1.019g/mL

%rsd 1.65% 1.77%

In this table, the density of the freshwater and seawater was calculated by the mass and volume that was from
gathered data at a certain temperature. The results found that the fresh water with an average density of 0.976 g/mL
is less dense compare to the seawater in which has an average density of 1.0097 g/mL. In addition, the observation
on the evaporation of the two water samples, the residue found in fresh water sample is powdery solids and in the
seawater sample there were more solid residue in which it is crystalline in form.

IV. Conclusion:
The experiment conducted to determine the density gave an average of 0.976 g/mL in fresh water sample
and 1.0097 g/mL in seawater sample. The seawater therefore, is slightly denser than freshwater as it is more saline
in comparison.
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