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Laboratory Experiment No. 2 - Instructional Material

The document describes procedures for laboratory experiments to determine the density of various liquids and solids. It involves measuring the mass and volume of water, zinc, and other substances to calculate density. It also involves observing how substances of different densities stack in a graduated cylinder filled with multiple liquids.

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44 views3 pages

Laboratory Experiment No. 2 - Instructional Material

The document describes procedures for laboratory experiments to determine the density of various liquids and solids. It involves measuring the mass and volume of water, zinc, and other substances to calculate density. It also involves observing how substances of different densities stack in a graduated cylinder filled with multiple liquids.

Uploaded by

sgagustin
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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SCHOOL OF TECHNOLOGY

College of Engineering
First Semester, AY 2023-2024

CHE-GEN | General Chemistry | Laboratory Experiment No. 2

Objectives
• To determine the density of pure water;
• To determine the density of zinc (applying the technique of water displacement);
• To compare the density of various liquids and solids.

Overview
Density is defined as the mass per unit volume of a substance, and it is a physical property of
matter. A physical property can be measured without changing the chemical identity of the
substance. Since pure substances have unique density values, measuring the density of a substance
can help identify that substance. Density is determined by dividing the mass of a substance by its
volume:

𝑀𝑎𝑠𝑠
Density =
𝑉𝑜𝑙𝑢𝑚𝑒

The units of density are commonly expressed as g/cm3 for solids, g/mL for liquids, and g/L for
gases.

Density is also an intensive property of matter. This means that the value of density is independent
of the quantity of matter present. For example, the density of a gold coin and a gold statue are the
same, even though the gold statue consists of the greater quantity of gold. This contrasts with
extensive properties, like volume (the amount of space occupied by matter), which depend of the
quantity of mater present. The more matter present, the larger the volume.

In Part A of this lab, the mass and volume of distilled water will be measured in order to determine
the density of water. Measurements will be performed on three samples of water to improve
precision and accuracy. Mass will be measured with an electronic balance, in grams (g), and
volume will be measured directly with a graduated cylinder, in milliliters (mL). Recall that when
measuring liquid volumes, the graduated scale must be read from the lowest point of the curved
surface of the liquid (the meniscus).

The accuracy of the experimentally determined density of water will then be evaluated by
comparison to the true, accepted density of water.

Measuring the Volume of a Liquid

The graduated cylinder markings are every 1-milliliter. When read from the lowest point of the
meniscus, the correct reading is 30.0 mL. The first 2 digits 30.0 are known exactly. The last digit
30.0 is uncertain. Even though it is a zero, it is significant and must be recorded.

In Part B of this lab, the density of zinc will be determined using zinc metal sheets. Again, mass
will be measured using an electronic balance, in grams (g). However, since the zinc samples have
irregular shapes, their volume must be measured indirectly using the technique of water
displacement (also known as Archimedes Principle). This is because the volume of water that the
solid displaces when it is immersed in the water is the same as the volume of the solid itself. The

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accuracy of this experimentally determined density will also be evaluated by comparison to the
true, accepted density of zinc.

Measuring the Volume of an Irregularly Shaped Solid

Volume water displaced = Final volume –Initial volume


Volume water displaced = Volume of solid

Materials and Equipment

100 mL graduated cylinder, zinc metal, small beaker, thermometer, electronic balance, distilled
water, honey, vegetable oil, paper clip, grapes, plastic bottle cap

IMPORTANT NOTE
Be especially careful when adding the zinc sheets to your graduated cylinder, as the glass could
break. Tilt the graduated cylinder and allow the zinc samples to gently slide to the bottom.

Part A: The Density of Water


1. Using the electronic balance, obtain the mass of your 100 mL graduated cylinder. Make
sure it is dry before you weigh it.
2. Add 25 mL of distilled water to the graduated cylinder. Precisely measure this volume of
water. Then measure the combined mass using the electronic balance.
3. Add another 25 mL of distilled water to the graduated cylinder. Again, precisely measure
this volume of water, and then measure the combined mass using the electronic balance.
4. Repeat Step 3 to obtain a third set of mass and volume measurements.
5. Use your thermometer to record the temperature of the water in your graduated cylinder.
6. Analysis: Subtract the mass of the empty cylinder from each combined mass measurement
to obtain three mass measurements of water. Use the three sets of mass and volume
measurements to calculate three density values for water. Then take the average of these
three density values. Finally, look up the true density of water at the temperature used, and
evaluate the accuracy of your average density value by calculating your percent error.

Part B: The Density of Zinc


The Density of Zinc
1. Using the electronic balance, obtain the mass of a clean, dry small beaker.
2. Obtain a sample of zinc (at most 10 pcs) from your instructor. Transfer all the samples to
the beaker, and measure the mass of the beaker and then calculate the mass of the pellets.
3. Pour 30 mL of water into your 100-mL graduated cylinder. Precisely measure this volume.
4. Carefully add all the zinc samples to the water, making sure not to lose any water to
splashing. Also make sure that the samples are all completely immersed in the water.
Measure the new volume of the water plus the pellets.
5. When finished, retrieve and dry the zinc samples and return them to your instructor.
6. Analysis: Use your measured mass and volume (obtained via water displacement) of the
aluminum pellets to calculate the density of zinc. Then look up the true density of zinc and
evaluate your accuracy by calculating your percent error.

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Part C: Stacking Density Column
1. Prepare 30 mL of each of the following:
1.1 Water – put two to three drops of food coloring
1.2 Honey
1.3 Vegetable oil
2. Pour the prepared 30 mL of water to the graduated cylinder. Allow to settle.
3. Pour the 30 mL-honey to the graduated cylinder. Allow to settle.
4. Pour the 30 mL-vegetable oil to the graduate cylinder.
5. Observe the scenario.
6. Drop the paper clip inside the graduate cylinder.
7. Drop the grape inside the graduated cylinder.
8. Drop the plastic bottle cap inside the graduated cylinder.
9. Also, observe the scenario.
10. Analysis: What liquid settles at the bottom of the graduated cylinder? Which liquid sits at
the top? Which object settles at the bottom of the graduated cylinder? Which object sits at
the top? Why do these liquids and solids settle at different levels of the graduated cylinder?

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