DAVAO DOCTORS COLLEGE

Pharmacy Department
Gen. Malvar St., Davao City

Name: Date:
Group Name: Year/Section:

LEARNING ACTIVITY NO.4

DENSITY, SPECIFIC GRAVITY, AND SPECIFIC VOLUME

OBJECTIVES:

At the end of this experiment, the students are expected to:

1. Define and determine density, specific gravity, and specific volume through
appropriate calculations.
2. Calculate specific gravity from data derived from the use of a pycnometer.
INTRODUCTION
 RELATED QUESTIONS TO ANSWER:

1. What is the difference between density and specific gravity?

2. What is Archimedes' principle? Explain how Archimedes' principle is used to

determine specific gravity.

3. Describe and illustrate 3 different instruments used to measure specific gravity.

4. How to measure the specific gravity of urine? What is the clinical significance of
determining its specific gravity?
5. Discuss the pharmaceutical and clinical applications of density, specific gravity
and specific volume. Give examples.

6. Problem solving: Direction: Show the solution and box your final answer. Strictly
NO ERASURES and write your answers at the back.

a. Rx
Testosterone propionate 2g
Mineral oil, light 10g
Polysorbate 80 1g
Methylcellulose 2% gel 87g

The specific gravity of polysorbate 80 is 1.08. Calculate the milliliters of

polysorbate 80 needed to fill the prescription.
b. What is the specific volume of a syrup, 95.0mL of which weighs 118.25g?
c. What is the volume, in mL, of 492 grams nitric acid with specific gravity of
1.40?
d. A glass plummet weighs 12.64 grams in air, 8.57g when immersed in water
and 9.12 grams when immersed in an oil. Calculate the specific gravity of the
oil.
e. A 50mL pycnometer is found to weigh 21.62g when empty, 46.71g when
filled with water, and 43.28g when filled with unknown liquid. Calculate the
specific gravity of the unknown liquid.
f. What is the weight, in grams, of 5 liters of alcohol (d=0.816gmL)?
CONCLUSIONS:

REFERENCE/S: