Teacher

Laboratory guide

Chemistry

Matter

Objectives:

To identify the relationship

between the mass and volume

DETERMINING THE DENSITY

of a material with liquid
characteristics.

OF LIQUIDS To become familiar with the

use of measurement
instruments such as triple-
beam balances and
pycnometers.
As head of the physico-chemical analysis lab at the department of
geology and mining, you have been provided with four samples of
different liquids that have been brought to the lab from a volcanic basin.
The samples contain dissolved salts or hydroxides. You will need to
analyze the densities and compare them with the table of reagents
available in the lab to identify which solution corresponds to each of the RELATED RESOURCES:
samples.

Learning unit:

Matter

Laboratories:

Properties of matter, states of

matter, determining the density
of solids
 LABORATORY EQUIPMENT

PROCEDURE

• Go to the virtual “Matter” topic and select the

simulation “Determining the density of liquids”
(Figure 1).

• Read the situation / challenge. Then, click on

Fig. 1.
the icon to exit the challenge situation and
access the laboratory (Figure 2).

• During the laboratory, you may click on the

information icon to read the situation, the
procedures or the equations as required. Click
on the help icon to see the answers to
frequently asked questions. If you want to stop
the process and clear the work station at any
point, click the trash can icon button . By Fig. 2
clicking the pencil icon button , it will open
the data record. A calculator is provided at the
work station and can be identified using the

icon . The notebook icon will allow you

to answer the additional questions (Figure 3).

Fig. 3
1. Laboratory equipment and supplies
identification

• Triple beam balance

• 4 containers
• Graduated cylinder
• Oven
• Desiccator
Fig. 4
• Pycnometer

2. Take measurements

• Take the pycnometer to the oven to dry it

(Figure 4).

• Take the pycnometer to the oven using the

tongs and take it to the desiccator. The
cooling time is predetermined by the
simulator (Figure 5). Fig. 5

• Take the cold and dry pycnometer from the

desiccator and weigh it while it is empty.

• Click on the triple-beam balance to zoom in.

Adjust the weights by modifying their
position until the balance is aligned in
equilibrium. The correct value has been
found when the arrows on the right part of
the balance turn green (Figure 6).

• Pour one of the samples into the Fig. 6

pycnometer (Figure 7).

• Now weigh the pycnometer with the sample

in it (Figure 8).

• Determine the density of the sample using

the relation between volume and mass.

• Analyze the density obtained and compare

it with the data provided in the table of
reagents in order to determine the solution
that corresponds to the sample (Figure 9). Fig. 7

• Repeat the same procedure with the other

three samples.
3. Calculations

● Use the information button to see the

equation related to the laboratory practice.

● Replace in the equation the corresponding

values of mass and volume.

● Determine the density of the liquid.

Fig. 8
● Identify the approximate value of the
sample obtained.

4. Data registry

• Note that for the data registry in this lab

practice, you will need to enter the following
values: mass of the pycnometer with the
solution, mass of the solution, volume of the
solution, mass of the pycnometer, density
and identification of the sample (Figure 10).
Fig. 9
• Once you have entered all of the values into
the data registry, click on the "Verify" button
to check if they are correct.

5. Additional questions

• At the laboratory, there is a button with an

available notebook for answers the
additional questions related to this
laboratory practice (Figure 11).
Fig. 10

• Note that there are four additional questions

and you must use the arrow button to
answer them.

• The notebook allows you to add or delete

pages as required, using the buttons .

6. Conceptual questions and laboratory report

• If the data sent are correct, go to the

Fig. 11
assessment section and answer the
conceptual questions. After that, you can
generate the laboratory report (Figure 12).
 Fig. 12

LABORATORY PROCEDURE

In this laboratory practice, the values of mass for the four liquid samples and the mass of the pycnometer are
random.

Challenge:

We determine the value of the density of each sample, as described below.

Sample 1:
𝐦 = 𝐦𝐛 − 𝐦𝐩

Where:

m = mass of the solution

mb = mass of the solution plus the pycnometer
mp = mass of the dry pycnometer

𝐦𝐚𝐬𝐬 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐬𝐨𝐥𝐮𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 (𝐠)

𝐃𝐞𝐧𝐬𝐢𝐭𝐲 =
𝐯𝐨𝐥𝐮𝐦𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐬𝐨𝐥𝐮𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 (𝐦𝐋)
Data:

Mass of the solution = 53 g − 32 g = 21 g

Volume of the solution = 20 mL

𝟐𝟏 𝐠 𝐠
𝐃𝐞𝐧𝐬𝐢𝐭𝐲 = = 𝟏. 𝟎𝟓 ( )
𝟐𝟎 𝐦𝐋 𝐦𝐋

The table of reagents shows us that the density corresponds approximately to that of potassium chloride
(12%).

Note: Remember that you have a scientific calculator available for making mathematical calculations.
Sample 2:

Data:
Mass of the solution = 55 g − 32 g = 23 g
Volume of the solution = 20 mL

𝟐𝟑 𝐠 𝐠
𝐃𝐞𝐧𝐬𝐢𝐭𝐲 = = 𝟏. 𝟏𝟓 ( )
𝟐𝟎 𝐦𝐋 𝐦𝐋

The table of reagents shows us that the density corresponds approximately to that of sodium carbonate (14%).

Sample 3:

Data:

Mass of the solution = 57 g − 32 g = 25 g

Volume of the solution = 20 mL

𝟐𝟓 𝐠 𝐠
𝐃𝐞𝐧𝐬𝐢𝐭𝐲 = = 𝟏. 𝟐𝟓 ( )
𝟐𝟎 𝐦𝐋 𝐦𝐋

The table of reagents shows us that the density corresponds approximately to that of sodium hydroxide (24%).
Sample 4:

Data:
Mass of the solution = 59 g − 32 g = 27 g
Volume of the solution = 20 mL

𝟐𝟕 𝐠 𝐠
𝐃𝐞𝐧𝐬𝐢𝐭𝐲 = = 𝟏. 𝟑𝟓 ( )
𝟐𝟎 𝐦𝐋 𝐦𝐋

The table of reagents shows us that the density corresponds approximately to that of potassium bromide
(40%).
 ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS

Now, you find the expected answers to the additional questions. The answers must be recorded in the
notebook.

1. Does the density of a solution change with its concentration? Explain your answer.

A// Yes, as the density is proportional to the concentration of a solution.

2. Is it possible to measure the density of acids using the procedure shown in this practice?

A// No, the density of acids is measured using a hydrometer.

3. Why is the desiccator used in this laboratory?

A// The desiccator is used to prevent the absorption of humidity from the environment.

4. What is another method used to determine the density of a liquid?

A// A hydrometer is also used to measure the density of liquids.

DATA RECORD TABLE

Now, you can see the information recorded in the data record.
 CONCEPTUAL QUESTIONS

Multiple choice questions with only one answer

Statement:

You have been promoted to laboratory director. You now have an analyst who works for you and needs to
determine the density of some samples of liquids. However, he has some questions about how to perform the
measurement and make a conclusion about it:

1. The density table shows the density of sodium chloride to be 5% at 20°C, but the sample is at 23°C.
Is it possible to take the measurement using the regular procedure?

a. It is not possible to take the measurement, as the temperature changes the mass
concentration of the sample.
b. There is no problem, as density does not depend on temperature.
c. It is not possible to take the measurement, because the conditions are different.
d. This is not important or relevant when performing the calculations, because the
difference in temperatures is minimal (Correct answer).

2. The 20ml pycnometer has broken, but there is another one of 10ml. Is it possible to take the
measurement using the regular procedure?

a. None of these options.

b. It is not possible to calculate the density. The result will be higher, because it is inversely
proportional to the volume.
c. Absolutely, because density is an intensive property of matter (Correct answer).
d. It is not possible to calculate the density. The result will be lower because it is directly
proportional to the volume.
3. The density of potassium chloride was not shown on the table, so that of the solid was found. Is it
possible to add the density of the water and that of the chloride in order to find the density of the
solution?

a. It is not the correct calculation. It is necessary to add the densities provided by their mass
percentages in the resulting solution.
b. No, due to intermolecular forces and chemical aspects, the density must be
determined experimentally and registered in tables (Correct answer).
c. Yes, as the total density is the weight of its individual densities.
d. Yes, because it is a solution and the total density is therefore the sum of the individual
densities.