Beverage Density Lab

Sugar Content Analysis

 Introduction

The density of a pure substance is a characteristic physical property that

can be used to identify the substance. Density is defined as the ratio of mass
per unit volume. It is an “intensive” property; that is, it does not depend on
the amount of the substance.

The density of any material is determined by measuring its mass and volume
and then dividing the mass by the volume. The mass of a substance can be
measured directly using a balance. The volume of a liquid can also be measured
directly using special laboratory glassware, such as a graduated cylinder, a buret,
or a pipet. In this experiment, liquid volumes will be measured using a pipet. A
pipet is designed to deliver an accurate and precise volume of liquid to another
container.
 The density of a solution depends on its concentration, that is, how
much solute (solid) is dissolved in the solvent (liquid). The higher the
concentration of solute, the greater the density of the solution. A con-
venient way to express concentration is in units of weight percent, which
corresponds to the number of grams of solute that are present in 100 g
of solution. A 20% salt solution is prepared by dissolving 20 g of sodium
chloride in 80 g of water. (Notice that the final mass of the solution is 100
grams.) If the density of a solution is plotted on a graph against the
concentration of solute, a regular pattern is evident. Density is directly
proportional to concentration. A 20% salt solution, for example, has a
greater density than a 10% salt solution. If the densities of several
solutions on known concentrations are determined experimentally, a
calibration curve (graph) can be constructed that shows a straight-line
relationship between the density of a solution and the concentration
of solute. The calibration curve can then be used to find the concentration
of solute in an unknown solution.
 Experiment Overview
The purpose of this experiment is to determine the percent sugar content
in beverages. The density of five sugar “reference” solutions will be measured
in Part A. The reference solutions contain known amounts of sugar (0-20%)
and have been dyed with food coloring to make it easier to tell them apart.

0% sugar = clear
5% sugar = yellow
10% sugar = green
15% sugar = blue
20% sugar = purple

Their densities will be plotted on a graph to obtain a calibration curve of

density versus percent sugar concentration. In part B, the densities of two
beverages will also be determined and the calibration curve used to find
how much sugar they contain. The results will be compared against the
information provided on the nutrition labels for these beverages.
 Pre-Lab Questions
1. If the following mass and volume data are used to calculate the density of
solution, how many significant figures are allowed in the calculated density?
Mass of solution = 12.53 g; volume of solution = 8.27 mL.

2. Calculate the density of the solution described in Question #1.

3. According to its nutritional label, orange soda contains 49 g of sugar per 355 mL
serving. If the density of the beverage is 1.043 g/mL, what is the percent sugar
concentration in orange soda?
Hint: This is a 2-step problem.
First, use the density to convert the 355 mL serving size to grams.
Then calculate percent sugar in the beverage.
Data Table A: Density of Reference Solutions

Solution Mass, g Sample Volume, mL Density, g/mL

0% Sugar 9.95 g 10.00 0.995

5% Sugar 10.14 g 10.00 1.014

10% Sugar 10.34 g 10.00 1.034

15% Sugar 10.53 g 10.00 1.053

20% Sugar 10.73 g 10.00 1.073

 Density vs. Percent Sucrose
Calibration Curve
1.08

1.07

1.06

1.05
Density (g/mL)

1.04

1.03

1.02

1.01

1.00

0.99
0 5 10 15 20 25 30
Percent Sucrose
Data Table B: Beverage Densities

Beverage Mass, g Sample Volume, mL Density, g/mL

Powerade 10.27 g 10.00 1.027

Lemon-lime
10.35 g 10.00 1.035
soda

Cola 10.38 g 10.00 1.038

Apple juice 10.42 g 10.00 1.042

Grape juice 10.59 g 10.00 1.059

The relevant information
on this label is the grams Nutrition Facts
Serving Size: 1 Can (355 mL)
of sugars, NOT the Percent
Daily Value. Amounts Per Serving
Calories 150
This soda contains 40 g of
% Daily Value*
sugar per 355 mL of beverage. Total Fat 0 g 0%
Sodium 55 mg 2%
Total Carb. 40 g 13%
Sugars 40 g
Protein 0 g 0%

* Percent Daily Values are bases on a 2,000

calorie diet.
 from calibration curve
Data Table C: Results Table

Amount of Percent sugar

Measured Percent sugar Percent
Beverage sugar (calculated from
density, g/mL (experimental) error
(Nutrition label) Nutrition label)

Powerade 1.027 8.3% 15 g/240 mL 6.1% *36%

Lemon-lime
1.035 10.3% 38 g/355 mL 10% 3%
soda

Cola 1.038 11.1% 42 g/355 mL 11% 1%

Apple juice 1.042 12.1% 38 g/296 mL 12% 1%

Grape juice 1.059 16.5% 40 g/240 mL 16% 3%

*Powerade contains a large amount of salt (electrolytes)

 Pre-Lab Questions
1. If the following mass and volume data are used to calculate the density of
solution, how many significant figures are allowed in the calculated density?
Mass of solution = 12.53 g; volume of solution = 8.27 mL.
(4 sig. figs.) (3 sig. figs.) (3 sig. figs.)
2. Calculate the density of the solution described in Question #1.

mass 12.53 g
Density = Density = Density = 1.52 g/mL
volume 8.27 mL

3. According to its nutritional label, orange soda contains 49 g of sugar per 355 mL
serving. If the density of the beverage is 1.043 g/mL, what is the percent sugar
concentration in orange soda?
Hint: This is a 2-step problem.
First, use the density to convert the 355 mL serving size to grams.
Then calculate percent sugar in the beverage.

1.043 g 49 g x 100% = 13%

X g = 355 mL = 370 g
1 mL 370 g
Data Table C: Results Table

Amount of Percent sugar

Measured Percent sugar Percent
Beverage sugar (calculated from
density, g/mL (experimental) error
(Nutrition label) Nutrition label)

Powerade 1.027 8.3% 15 g/240 mL 6.1% *36%

Lemon-lime
1.035 10.3% 38 g/355 mL 10% 3%
soda

Cola 1.038 11.1% 42 g/355 mL 11% 1%

Apple juice 1.042 12.1% 38 g/296 mL 12% 1%

Grape juice 1.059 16.5% 40 g/240 mL 16% 3%

DO NOT use volume…

42 g x 100% = 12%
need to convert to mass first (using density)
355 mL

1.038 g 42 g x 100% = 11%

X g = 355 mL = 338 g
1 mL 368 g
 Teacher Notes
Printable
copy of
LAB

• Have students make standard reference samples of 5%,

10%, 15%, 20% sugar
• Use balances that have more than 0.0 g precision
• Students should use 10 mL pipets for references
• Teacher may want to set-up buret with beverage
samples
• Scales not working properly and pipet bulbs that don’t
work were largest problem with this lab.
• Have students place dirty pipets in bucket of soapy water
at end of lab
• DO NOT ALLOW students to pour samples back into
containers
 Aspartame

Copyright © 2007 Pearson Benjamin Cummings. All rights reserved.