DETERMINATION OF DENSITY OF A LIQUID

ELLENA C. SITON

Depazrtment of Chemical Engineering

College of Engineering and Architecture

Cebu Institute of Technology – University

N. Bacalso Ave. Cebu City, 6000 Philippines

Abstract

In this experiment, the liquids of density liquids were determined with the use of three
apparatuses: Pycnometer, Westphal’s balance, and hydrometer. Four different sugar solutions
were prepared: 25g, 50g, 75g, and 100g. With the use of absolute measurement of water which
was 0.001 kg/m3, it made it possible to perform the density measurement and calculation of
specific gravity relative to this reference liquid by using the apparatus. All these apparatuses
mentioned were applied in the principle of Archimedes stating that an object fully submerged or
floating displaces the same amount of liquid as its volume, while an object partially submerged it
displaces the same amount of liquid as its mass. Base on the result we found out that there is a
linear relationship between density and the concentration of the solution, where the concentration
of the solution increases, the density also increases.

1|P a ge
1. Introduction

The density of the liquids was obtained with the use of these measuring apparatus:
Pycnometer, Westphal’s balance, and Hydrometer.

The pycnometer is used to determine the density of a liquid. The pycnometer has a close-
fitting ground glass stopper with a capillary tube, and this is made of glass. The pycnometer is a
standard container with a temperature with it to measure and compare the densities of liquids or
solids.

Figure A.1 Pycnometer

The Westphal’s balance is a device used to measure the specific gravity of a liquid. The
modification that was made by the good doctor was to replace the tray method with an adjustable
arm counterweight.

2|P a ge
 Figure A.2 Westphal’s Balance

In operating the Westphal’s Balance, first balanced the plummet and fully submerged in
water at 15.5 degrees oC. The plummet in the Westphal’s balance has a built-in thermometer and
it has a known volume of 5 gm of water at 15.5 degrees oC, and a mass of 15gm. The 5gm mass
is placed on the hook holding the plummet, and the screw was adjusted on the foot is adjusted until
the end pointer of the beamlines up with a point on the frame. The plummet is submerged
completely in the unknown liquid and rebalanced the system, we use of a series rider on the nine
equally spaced notches on the beam, thus giving the value of the added mass for each decimal
place. This results in the buoyant force of the liquid relative to water, and thus the specific gravity
obtained four decimal places.

Figure A.3 Hydrometer

The hydrometer is an instrument used we the influence of the principle Archimedes’ of

buoyancy. The Archimedes principle state that an object full submerged or floating displaces the
same amount of liquid as its volume, while an object partially submerged it displaces the same
amount of liquid as its mass.

3|P a ge
2. Material and Methods

Four sucrose solutions were prepared by dissolving 25g, 50g, 75g, and 100g of 200 mL of
distilled water in a flask. The solutions were submerged in a water bath and were stabilize to 25
o
C.

The three apparatus namely pycnometer, Westphal’s balance, and hydrometer were to
determine the density of the four solutions.

The pycnometer was cleaned and dried first, and then it was prepared and weighed. A
distilled water was poured into the pycnometer and was water bathed at 25 oC. After weighing the
empty pycnometer, it was subtracted from the weight of the pycnometer with water to gets the
weight of the liquid. It was repeated four times. The density was also computed by dividing the
mass of the sugar solution over the mass of water and multiply the quotient with the density of
water at 25 oC.

For the Westphal’s Balance, first, the balance was assembled, then a /3 full with pre-cooled
distilled water at 25 oC was filled inside the glass cylinder. A 5 gm was placed on the hook holding
the plummet, and then leveling the screw in the foot of the balance and was adjusted until the
equilibrium was obtained. In computing the specific gravity, the sum of all the weight of the riders
with respect to its notch. Then multiply the sum of the specific gravity to the density of water at
25 oC to get the density of the solution.

Lastly, the hydrometer, an 800 mL of distilled water was placed in a 1L graduated cylinder
at 25 oC. The liquid stabilized its temperature and air bubbles on the walls inside the walls of the
cylinder were removed. Then the hydrometer was placed inside the cylinder and was submerged
into the water level of the two smallest scale divisions below where it will be floated and was
released. After stabilizing, the reading was listed. This procedure was repeated four times using
the solutions. The Baume scale was used in computing the specific gravity when the concentration
of solutions is heavier than water.

4|P a ge
3. Results

Table A.1 Pycnometer

Volume of Pycnometer = 25 mL

SAMPLE MASS (grams) DENSITY SPECIFIC TEMPERATURE

GRAVITY

Water 25.18 1.02 1 25

Solution 1 26.41 1.06 1.05 25

Solution 2 27.03 1.08 1.07 25

Solution 3 27.66 1.11 1.10 25

Solution 4 28.8 1.15 1.14 25

Table A.2 Westphal’s balance

SAMPLE WEIGHTS DENSITY(g/mL) SPECIFIC

1 0.1 0.01 0.001 GRAVITY

Water 9 10 10 1.00 1.00

Solution 1 9 7&8 2 1.05 1.05

Solution 2 3&7 2&6 4 1.08 1.08

Solution 3 3&8 1 9 1.11 1.11

Solution 4 8&3 5 1 1.15 1.15

Table A.3 Hydrometer

SAMPLE DENSITY

Water 1.00

5|P a ge
 SPECIFIC GRAVITY DENSITY (g/mL)

Solution 1 1.049 1.049

Solution 2 1.074 1.074

Solution 3 1.107 1.107

Solution 4 1.160 1.160

Computations:

PYCNOMETER
𝑀 𝑃𝑠𝑜𝑙𝑢𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛
P= S.G. =
𝑉 𝑃𝑟𝑒𝑓𝑒𝑟𝑒𝑛𝑐𝑒

25.15 𝑔 1.0072 𝑔/𝑚𝐿

PH2O = = 1.0072 g/mL S.G.H20 = 1.0072 𝑔/𝑚𝐿 = 1
25 𝑚𝐿

26.41 𝑔 1.0564 𝑔/𝑚𝐿

Psol1 = = 1.0564 g/mL S.G.Sol1 = 1.0072 𝑔/𝑚𝐿 = 1.0488
25 𝑚𝐿

27.03 𝑔 1.0812 𝑔/𝑚𝐿

Psol2 = = 1.0812 g/mL S.G.Sol2 = 1.0072 𝑔/𝑚𝐿 = 1.0735
25 𝑚𝐿

27.66 𝑔 1.064 𝑔/𝑚𝐿

Psol3 = = 1.1064 g/mL S.G.Sol3 = 1.0072 𝑔/𝑚𝐿 = 1.0985
25 𝑚𝐿

28.8 𝑔 1.152 𝑔/𝑚𝐿

Psol4 = 25 𝑚𝐿 = 1.152 g/ mL S.G.Sol4 = 1.0072 𝑔/𝑚𝐿 = 1.1438

Graph A.1Relationship of density and mass (grams) using Pycnometer

MASS (grams) Line Fit Plot

DENSITY Predicted DENSITY

1.2
DENSITY

1.1
1
0.9
25.18 26.41 27.03 27.66 28.8
MASS (grams)

WESTPHAL’S BALANCE

6|P a ge
H2O:
9 10 10
Specific Gravity = 10 (1) + (10) (0.1) + (0.001) = 1.001 ≈ 1.00
10

P = S.G. x 0.997 g/mL

P = (1.00)(0.0997 g/mL) = 0.0997 g/mL ≈ 1.00 g/mL

Solution 1:
9 7 8 2
Specific Gravity = 10 (1) + 10 (0.1) + (0.1) + (0.001) = 1.0502 ≈ 1.05
10 10

P = S.G. x 0.992 g/mL

P = (1.05)(0.997 g/mL) = 1.04685 g/mL ≈ 1.05 g/mL

Solution 2:
3 7 2 10 4
Specific Gravity = 10 (1) + (1 ) + (0.1) + (0.1) + (0.001) = 1.0804 ≈ 1.08
10 10 10 10

P = S.G. x 0.997 g/mL

P = (1.08) (0.997 g/mL) =1.07676 g/mL ≈1.08 g/mL

Solution 3:
3 8 1
Specific Gravity = 10 (1) + (1 ) + (0.1) + 9(0.001) = 1.1109 ≈ 1.11
10 10

P = S.G. x 0.997 g/mL

P = (1.11)(0.997 g/mL) = 1.10667 g/mL ≈ 1.11 g/mL

Solution 4:
8 3 5 1
Specific Gravity = 10 (1) + (1 ) + (0.1) + (0.001) = 1.1501 ≈1.15
10 10 10

P = S.G. x 0.997 g/mL

P = (1.15) (0.997 g/mL) = 1.14655 g/mL ≈ 1.15

Graph A.2 Relationship of density and mass (grams) using Westphal’s Balance

7|P a ge
 MASS (grams) Line Fit Plot
1.2
DENSITY

1.1
1
0.9
25.18 26.41 27.03 27.66 28.8
MASS (GRAMS)

DENSITY Predicted DENSITY

HYDROMETER:
Solution 1: Solution 2:
Psoln = S.G. (PH20) Psoln = S.G. (PH2O)
= 1.049 (1.000 g/mL) = 1.074 (1.000g/mL)
= 1.049 g/mL = 1.074 g/mL

Solution 3: Solution 4:
Psoln = S.G. (PH2O) Psoln = S.G. (PH2O)
= 1.107 (1.000 g/mL) = 1.169 (1.000 g/mL)
= 1.107 g/mL = 1.16 g/mL

Graph A.3 Relationship of density and mass (grams) using Hydrometer

MASS (grams) Line Fit Plot

DENSITY Predicted DENSITY

1.2
1.15
DENSITY

1.1
1.05
1
0.95
0.9
25.18 26.41 27.03 27.66 28.8
MASS (grams)

8|P a ge
4. Discussion

The principle used in this experiment was Archimedes’ Principle states when a body
immersed in a fluid , it experiences upward force that will equal to the weight of the fluid displaced.

Base on the data from the pycnometer, Westphal’s balance, and hydrometer the experiment
is an error because just like in the table and computation are shown, the density and the specific
gravity that were obtained with the three apparatus are not the same, but they are slightly close to
each other. Although, they show that there is a direct linear relationship between the concentration
of liquid and the density.

In the pycnometer, the results were affected by the stabilization of the temperature because
the temperature might not be exactly 25 oC which altered the results. The temperate might increase
or decrease when the solutions were transferred or weighed.

Temperature can alter Westphal’s balance result but cannot alter the result of the pycnometer.
Although, the accuracy might be altered because it depends on the person's sight on how that
person reads it. Also, there can be an error in assigning the notch or the assumption on the
alignment of the pointer.

For hydrometer, the stabilization of temperature can also alter the results obtained. The
bubbles in the walls of the cylinder can increase the temperature that is why it is important to
remove them to lessen the error. Furthermore, if the hydrometer floats because of the exceed
reading of the scale it can also alter the result of the hydrometer.

Lastly, the way of solving the data can also alter it especially the preparations of solution.
Also, the dissolved mass of the solution might not be accurate as a result the data will also be
different.

9|P a ge
5. Conclusion:

In the determination of the specific gravity and density of a liquid, one can use these three
apparatuses namely Pycnometer, Westphal’s balance, and hydrometer. The Westphal balance is
not the measurement apparatus that is accurate in getting the density and specific gravity of the
liquid because of the alignment pointers that may vary from person to person. Next is the
hydrometer. It is also not that accurate same as the Westphal’s balance. After everything, a
Pycnometer is the most recommended in measuring the density because it can be easily calibrated.

Lastly, the most important factor to consider is the temperature because it can alter the
results of the data, and always take note that always uses the same temperature.

10 | P a g e
 6. Reference
Pycnometer. (n.d.). Retrieved February 08, 2021, from
https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/engineering/pycnometer
Archimedes' principle. (n.d.). Retrieved February 09, 2021, from
https://physics.weber.edu/carroll/archimedes/principle.html
Robinson, A. (2019, March 02). Uses of a hydrometer. Retrieved February 09, 2021, from
https://sciencing.com/uses-hydrometer-5273333.html
Westphal/ Mohr density balance. (n.d.). Retrieved February 09, 2021, from
https://www.phywe.com/en/westphal-mohr-density-balance.html

11 | P a g e