Density Lab

v6b

Dr. Breinan

Chemistry

p.1

Mass, Volume, and Density

Mass is the amount of matter in a sample. The instrument used to measure mass is a balance. Volume is the amount of space that matter takes up. There are various ways of measuring volume. The volume of a liquid is usually measured in a graduated cylinder. Remember to keep the graduated cylinder flat, bring your eye to the level of the liquid, and to read the bottom of the meniscus. Also remember that on all equipment with a graduated scale, your reading should include all of the numbers that you can read off the scale plus one additional number to estimate where your reading lies in between. It is often more difficult to measure the volume of a solid. It would be easy to calculate the volume of a perfect cube. But if the solid is irregularly shaped, as is often the case, we cannot use a simple mathematical formula. If the solid does not dissolve in water, water displacement may be used. A graduated cylinder is partly filled with water and the initial volume is recorded. The solid is then placed in the graduated cylinder and the volume of liquid is read again (it is important that the liquid does not overflow or splash out during this step!). The volume of the solid causes the water to rise... the volume can be found by subtracting the initial volume of the water from the final volume. It is also important that the solid is totally submerged and that no air bubbles are attached to the solid. Carefully give the graduated cylinder a tap to remove air bubbles from the side or object. The method cannot work if the solid dissolves. Mass and volume can be used to calculate another property of matter called density. We know that mass and volume both increase as the size of a sample of matter increases. How will density vary if we change the size of a sample of matter? In this lab we will find out. Objectives: - To determine the mathematical and graphical relationship between the mass and volume of several samples of matter. - To distinguish between direct and inverse mathematical relationships. - To calculate the density of a solid object and relate it to graphs of mass and volume. - To calculate a percent error from a known value. Pre-lab: Review your graphing handout carefully for this lab. Complete on separate sheet. 1. How do you correctly read a graduated cylinder? 2. What technique can you use to measure the volume of an irregularly shaped object? What tips should you remember in using it? 3. How do you take the slope of a line? 4. How is percent error defined? 5. Name the two general types of mathematical relationships between variables to be investigated in this lab.

Density Lab

v6b

Dr. Breinan

Chemistry

p.2

6. What safety equipment must be worn for this lab? SAFETY: Always wear goggles when working with glass in the room. Materials: Metal sample, balance, graduated cylinder(s) Procedure: Choose equipment to make and record all measurements as accurately and precisely as possible. You will be graded on your results. Be sure to record the correct number of digits for your data. 1. Obtain a metal sample (a slug) for each of two different metals. For each slug: 2. Make sure the sample is clean and dry. Mark down what balance # you are using. 3. Have one partner obtain the mass of the slug using a balance. Have the second partner repeat the reading. If the values differ by more than a couple hundredths, take an additional measurement. Remember to protect the balance pan. Record both values in the data table. 4. Have one partner obtain the volume by water displacement in a graduated cylinder*. Choose the appropriate size and kind of cylinder for the best results and make a note of the material (plastic or glass) and the capacity (highest volume reading). Make sure the entire sample is submerged. Dont splash. Record the initial and final volumes in the data table. This is the key step in this lab! Have the other partner repeat the volume measurements (starting with a new initial volume). 5. Calculate the volume of water displaced by volume displaced = final volume - initial volume. If your two readings differ by more than a tenth or two, you may want to repeat the measurement and eliminate any wrong measurements. 6. Average the results of your two trials on your data sheet. 7. Each lab group: Dry your slugs with a small amount of paper towel. Double check your calculations and give the teacher a neat, complete, and correct copy of your data table with your slugs to be checked in. Put the average values you obtained on the board for class data. Copy the class data. * Safety... For a given size, glass cylinders will be most precise, but may break. Try to slide the metal slowly into the cylinder by holding it at an angle. Dropping a slug directly to the bottom of a glass cylinder may break it and you will have to stand up on your table at lunch and sing the goggle song. Splashing from dropping slugs is also undesirable... do you know why? You should not hand this table in with your lab report... you have given me a copy and will use different data (class data) for the report! Your data and some calculations table balance #

Density Lab

v6b

Dr. Breinan final volume of water (mL)

Chemistry calculated volume (mL)

p.3 mass (g)

initial volume of water (mL) metal: trial 1 trial 2 average metal: trial 1 trial 2 average

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More calculations, analysis and questions: Be neat and complete! Show all work. (Do all work on a separate sheet!) Reminder: see graphing and types of relationships handouts! 1. Use all of the class data throughout the report. For one kind of metal, make a single table including mass and volume (the class data from the board), as well as computation of mass x volume and mass / volume. Fill in the appropriate units for these columns (once in the column heading is enough.) You do not need to show work since the column headings describe fully what was done. Use sig figs. 2. On one graph, plot all mass (y-axis) vs. volume (x-axis) data for both kinds of metals. Use the point (0,0) as the origin for your graph. Carefully consult a separate handout on graphing for hints in making the graph and calculating slope (question 6). Draw a separate best straight fit line for each metal. Extend the lines all the way to your axes. When placing your best fit lines, be sure to determine if the graph should go through the point (0,0). If you use a computer, use frequent horizontal and vertical grid lines (at least 3 lines per inch) and hand-draw the best-fit line! Hint: what does the line represent? Think about it crossing the axes. 3. Looking at the data / calculations table, which is constant: mass x volume; or mass / volume? 4. If A/B is constant, it is said that there is a direct relationship between A and B. If A x B is constant, it is said that there is an inverse relationship between A and B. What type of relationship was found in this lab? What does the graph look like for a given material? See your separate handout for more information on these two relationships. This relationship defines density. Check your text to verify this! Above the correct column on your data table write the word density. (keep the m*V or m/V heading as well)

Density Lab

v6b

Dr. Breinan

Chemistry

p.4

5. Take the average of the density values from your data table. You do not need to show work for averaging (at any point during the year)... just label the answer average. Note: averaging does not change Sig Figs! Make the same computation for the other metal (mass*vol or mass/vol) and report the average value here as well (no need to show this second table.) For both metals, do the following: (Be sure to clearly label which metal each result belongs to) 6. Calculate the slopes of your best fit lines as accurately as possible. Perform all of this work on the graph itself. (Do NOT put these calculations on other pages or the back!) The slope is equal to the change in the y-value divided by the change in the x-value (with units!). You can choose any two points on a line to calculate slope, but it is best to choose them far apart. * Do NOT use data points for this calculation-- see graph elements sheet. - On the graph, show the points you chose with open symbols so that they do not obscure the best fit line underneath and mark the coordinates for these points right next to the points. - Make sure your slope points are not confused with your data points. - Write your final slope answer as a decimal to the tenths place and dont forget units! 7. (a) Using the accepted values provided by your teacher and your answer in number 5, calculate the percent error of your results. (b) Compare the slope you calculated in #6 to your answers in #5 and the accepted value. What do you think the significance of the slope of this graph is? Questions: 8. Which graduated cylinder did you choose (capacity and material)? Why? 9. Should a density graph go through the point (0,0)? Why or why not? 10. Would you get the same values of slope if you just counted the number of grid lines in the rise and run (ignoring the scales on your graph)? Give one example. 11. Why must the slugs be clean and dry to start? 12. Does the density of an item depend on the amount of that item present? 13. If I randomly picked two pure solid substances in the room, is it likely that they would have the same density? If I could take any size piece of either, could I make them have the same density? Comment on your answers. 14. If you were given another piece of metal, would you rather know its mass or its density if you wanted to find out what kind of metal it is. Explain. 15. Would the presence of an air bubble stuck on the submerged metal tend to make the density too high or too low? Explain.

Density Lab

v6b

Dr. Breinan

Chemistry

p.5

Final reminder: When you hand in your report, make sure the pre-lab is on top. There is no need to turn in this handout. For this lab, make sure your graph is the last page of the report. Extra Credit: How could you determine the density of table salt (sodium chloride, NaCl). How could you determine the density of a styrofoam packing peanut? List the key steps for either procedure or both... be sure to clearly state what problems would you encounter using the methods in this lab and how could you solve them.