PANGASINAN STATE UNIVERSITY – URDANETA CITY CAMPUS

COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING AND ARCHITECTURE

CIVIL ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT

CE 222 – CONSTRUCTION MATERIALS & TESTING

Laboratory Plate No. 05

Plate Title: SPECIFIC GRAVITY OF CEMENT

I. PURPOSE

To determine the suitability of Portland Cement for concrete

work by the standard acceptance tests.

II. SIGNIFICANCE USE

The specific gravity of cement is not of particular

importance because for most purposes a specific gravity of
3.15 may be assumed. However, this test which is very easily
carried out may detect adulteration or unburning of the
cement. Specific gravity is also used in design of concrete
mixtures. A sample of cement is placed in a graduated glass
flask containing a previously read volume of kerosene. The
increase in volume is noted and the specific gravity is
calculated by dividing the weight of sample by increase in
volume.

III. APPARATUS/MATERIALS:

 Portland cement
 Water-free kerosene
 Graduated glass flask
 Balance and Weights
 Mixing Rod

IV. PROCEDURE:

1. Fill the flask with kerosene up to the required volume as

instructed.
2. Take the initial reading after maintaining a good room
temperature.
3. Introduce into the flask the cement sample, use also the
required mass as instructed.
 4. Stopper the flask and start mixing until air bubbles rise
to the surface.
5. Immerse in water bath, then take the final reading in
volume again.

V. ANALYSIS:

𝑾𝒄 (𝒊𝒏 𝒈𝒓𝒂𝒎𝒔)
S.G. =
𝑭𝒊𝒏𝒂𝒍 𝑹𝒆𝒂𝒅𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝑰𝒏𝒊𝒕𝒊𝒂𝒍 𝑹𝒆𝒂𝒅𝒊𝒏𝒈 (𝒊𝒏 𝒎𝒍)

VI. REPORT:

The specific gravity of your provided cement sample.

VII. DOCUMENTATION

Provide photos of your group while conducting the

laboratory test with captions.