ACTIVITY 5, DENSITY AND SPECIFIC GRAVITY POST LAB

PREPAERED BY: IAN RAY VAN MATT EDWARD A. GUINID RPh

PYCNOMETER- (from the Greek puknos, meaning “density”, also called pyknometer or specific
gravity bottle), is a flask with a close-fitting ground glass stopper with a fine hole through it, so that a
given volume can be accurately obtained (Figure 1). This enables the density of a fluid to be measured
accurately, by reference to an appropriate working fluid such as water or mercury, using an analytical
balance.

Figure 1: Pycnometer. a) Empty. b) Full. Note the liquid in the capillary stopper.

If the flask is weighed empty, full of water, and full of a liquid whose specific gravity is desired, the
specific gravity of the liquid can easily be calculated. The particle density of a powder, to which the usual
method of weighing cannot be applied, can also be determined with a pycnometer. The powder is
added to the pycnometer, which is then weighed, giving the weight of the powder sample. The
pycnometer is then filled with a liquid of known density, in which the powder is completely insoluble.
The weight of the displaced liquid can then be determined, and hence the specific gravity of the powder.

The pycnometer is used in ISO standard: ISO 1183-1:2004, and ASTM standard:
ASTM D854.
1. The pycnometer is delicate and expensive; exercise care when handling it.
2. The bulb and stopper of the pycnometer are both engraved with the same number. Be sure that
you do not inadvertently switch stoppers with someone else; check the numbers occasionally.
3. The pycnometer must be clean and DRY before the initial weighing.
4. To fill the pycnometer with liquid, use a Pasteur pipet to fill the bulb to about halfway up the
neck (there is usually a white mark). Then slowly insert the capillary stopper.
5. When full, there should be NO air bubbles in the bulb or capillary of the pycnometer, and no air
space at the top of the capillary.
6. Before weighing the full pycnometer, the outside should be perfectly dry.

Pycnometric Method:
1. Obtain a pycnometer and glass stopper from your lab instructor.
2. Carefully clean the glassware with soap and water and then rinse with a small amount of
acetone as described above.
3. Weigh the dry flask and stopper on the analytical balance in the balance room.
4. Determine the exact volume of your pycnometer by filling it fully with water, inserting the
stopper, and tapping the sides gently to remove the air bubbles.
5. Dry the sides and weigh the full pycnometer on the analytical balance.
6. Measure the temperature of the water. Use the known density of water located in the CRC
handbook to determine the volume of water contained in the full pycnometer flask. Be certain to use
the known density value at the correct temperature.

Difference Between Specific Gravity and Density

If a material has a specific gravity less than 1, it will float on water.
It is represented as,

Specific gravity substance=ρsubstance/ρreference

Density, on the other hand, is represented as,

ρ=mass/volume
And it is represented in kilograms per cubic meter kg/m3

Difference Between Density and Specific Gravity

Density Specific Gravity (Relative Density)

It is the mass of an object per unit volume Relative density is the ratio of a substance’s weight to the
weight of the same volume of water.

To calculate density, we need to know the We can get this by dividing the density of a substance
weight and volume of the substance. with the density of water.

It is represented in absolute term It is represented in relative term

Its symbol is ρ is represented in kilogram per It does not have a SI unit

cubic meter

It is used in many domestic and commercial It is used in industries to measure the concentration of
applications solutions.

Material Specific Gravity

Dry Air 0.0013

Alcohol 0.82

Carbon dioxide 0.00126

 Cast Iron 7.20

Petrol 0.72

Rubber 0.96

Wood Oak 0.77

Nylon 1.12

EXAMPLE 1
You are presented with two liquids: X and Y – specifically, 37.5mL of Liquid X and 18.2g of
Liquid Y. Liquid X has a weight/mL of 0.65g and liquid Y has a weight/mL of 1.1g. Convert
liquid X to its equivalent weight and convert Liquid Y to its equivalent volume in mL.
First, we need to know the density of each liquid. The question provides us with those densities
– liquid X has a weight/mL of 0.65g and liquid Y has a weight/mL of 1.1g.

Keep in mind – the formula for density is mass/volume.

Liquid X Liquid Y
37.5mL x 0.65g = 24.4g 18.2g/ 1.1g = 16.5g
From the table, we see that 37.5mL of liquid X has a weight of 24.4g and 18.2g of Liquid Y has a
volume of 16.5g.

Knowing the relationship between density, mass and volume is essential. It has practical value,
too – allowing the formulator to measure low viscosity liquids by volume rather than by
weighing the liquid.

EXAMPLE 2
The excipients needed to produce an ointment are tabled below:
Liquid paraffin 20mL
Zinc oxide 15mg
Yellow soft paraffin to: 100g
Calculate the final formula of 25g of the ointment.
 First, notice that units are different.

Solids are measured in grams but the liquid is measured in mL.

1mL of liquid paraffin does not occupy a volume of 1g – meaning we need to find the density of
liquid paraffin to make this conversion possible. The density of liquid paraffin is 0.88g/mL.
Now we need to multiply this density by 20mL of liquid paraffin to find the quantity of liquid
paraffin in grams:

 20mL x 0.88g/mL = 17.6g

20mL of liquid paraffin occupies a volume of 17.6 grams.

Liquid paraffin 17.6g x

Zinc oxide 15mg y
Yellow soft paraffin to: 100g 25g
Notice that the difference between the values is 1/4 (100g/25g).
 x = 4.4g
 y = 3.75g
Both x and y give us a combined weight of 8.15g.

Given that we need a weight of yellow soft paraffin to 25g, we must subtract the weight of both
liquid paraffin and zinc oxide to give us the final weight of yellow soft paraffin needed.

25g – 8.15g = 16.85g of yellow soft paraffin.

This example reinforces three essential points:

 Pharmacy students need to review the units used in each question – ensuring, where
necessary, that they are consistent.

 Students should convert necessary weights and volumes.

 Pharmacy students should understand that not all liquids, solids, and semi-solids
share a 1:1 proportional relationship for conversion.
These are the foundational principles that must be followed when answering density and
displacement questions.

Calculating Specific Gravity

Specific gravity is determined by dividing the density of a material by the density of water at 4 degrees
Celsius. For the calculation, the density of the material and that of the water must be expressed in the same
units.

Density Of Water In Various Units

 1000 kilograms per cubic meter

 1 gram per cubic centimeter
 62.43 pounds per cubic foot
 0.036 pounds per cubic inch

Solved Examples of Specific Gravity

Example 1: Calculate the specific gravity of iron.
The density of iron is 7850 kg/m3. The specific gravity of iron-related to water is calculated as follows:

SGiron=7850kg/m31000kg/m3=7.85SGiron=7850kg/m31000kg/m3=7.85
Hence, the specific gravity of iron is 7.85.

Example 2: If the density of gold is 19300 kg/m 3, what is the specific gravity of gold?
We can calculate the specific gravity of gold as follows:
SGgold=19300kg/m31000kg/m3=19.3SGgold=19300kg/m31000kg/m3=19.3
Hence, the specific gravity of iron is 19.3.

Example 3: If the specific gravity of ice is 0.92, then what is the density of ice?
The density of ice can be calculated by interchanging the specific gravity formula as follows:

SG=ρsubstanceρH2O⇒ρsubstance=SG⋅ρH2OSG=ρsubstanceρH2O⇒ρsubstance=SG⋅ρH2O
Substituting the values in the above equation, we get

ρsubstance=0.92⋅1000kg/m3=920kg/m3ρsubstance=0.92⋅1000kg/m3=920kg/m3

Specific Gravity of Gas

For gases, the specific gravity is normally calculated with reference to air. Specific gravity for gases is defined
as the ratio of the density of the gas to the density of air at a specified temperature and pressure. The density
of air at room temperature is 1.20 kg/m3.

SG=ρgas/ρair
In the exam, if the reference substance is not specified for a specific gravity problem, it is usually safe to
assume that you are using this as your reference substance.

Factors Affecting Specific Gravity

As discussed, specific gravity is the measure of the density of an object in comparison to the density of water
at an exact temperature and pressure. Changes in the pressure and temperature affect the density of objects
and liquids, thereby affecting the specific gravity of objects and liquids. Standard temperature and pressure
are used in the calculation of specific gravity. If failed to regulate the outside influences, then the specific
gravity will change.

Applications of Specific Gravity

Specific gravity has a wide range of applications, following are a few of the applications:

 The gem purity can be determined by comparing its specific gravity with the already measured high
purity level of another gem. This allows the gem’s value to be determined very quickly.
 Specific gravity is used by mineralogists and geologists to determine the mineral content of the rock.
 Urinary specific gravity is a measure of the concentration of solutes in the urine. The test is a routine
part of a urinalysis.

DENSITY AND PHARMACY

1. Students should convert necessary weights and volumes. Pharmacy students should understand that
not all liquids, solids, and semi-solids share a 1:1 proportional relationship for conversion. These are the
foundational principles that must be followed when answering density and displacement questions.

2. Density is an essential characteristic of a substance, a measure that affects medicines too. Density is
the name given to a relationship; a relationship between the mass of a substance and the space that
that mass occupies. A substance with a high mass but low volume has a higher density that a substance
with a low mass but which occupies a larger volume. As the principles of density and displacement apply
to medicines, too, we need to consider how these principles impact pharmacy calculations.

REFERENCES: https://pharmafactz.com/pharmacy-calculations-density-and-displacement-values/

https://byjus.com/physics/difference-between-density-and-specific-gravity/#:~:text=Density%20is
%20the%20property%20of%20matter%20represented%20by,with%20respect%20to%20a%20density
%20of%20pure%20water.

https://www.che.utah.edu/academic_program/projects_lab/pycnometer/

https://byjus.com/physics/specific-gravity/#:~:text=Specific%20gravity%20is%20determined%20by
%20dividing%20the%20density,water%20must%20be%20expressed%20in%20the%20same%20units.