DENSITY DETERMINATION BY PYCNOMETER

A Laboratory Research Study Presented to the

Faculty of the Department of Chemical Engineering

School of Engineering and Architecture

Saint Louis University

In Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree

Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering

by

Corsal, Joseph Kenneth B.

Camat, Danae B.

Contada,Precy B.

Javier, Mae Angellene C.

Sinano, Gervase G.

Valencerina, Czarette

August 2017

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 ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

The researchers would like to express their greatest gratitude to the following that extended

their help to finish the study.

First and foremost the researchers would like to thank God for giving them strength, ability

and knowledge to undertake the experiment and report and to persevere and complete it

satisfactorily.

The researchers would also like to thank the members of group seven and their classmates for

participating actively from the experiment work and report preparation.

To the laboratory technicians, for providing them the apparatus and reagents needed in the

experiment they express their warmest thanks.

The researcher would like to give their biggest appreciation to their instruction, Engineer

Mila Rose dela Rosa and their stand-in instructor Engineer Katelyn Gabon for the unending

guidance, support and supervision throughout the whole experiment process and for the

knowledge and information that they have shared that lead them to an agreeable outcome.

And lastly to the researchers parents and family, to whom they are forever grateful and

thankful for giving them the love, support and encouragement that they need they give their

deepest respect and love.

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 TABLE OF CONTENTS

TITLE PAGE i

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT ii

TABLE OF CONTENTS iii

LIST OF TABLES iv

LIST OF FIGURES v

ABSTRACT vi

Chapter 1: INTRODUCTION 1

Chapter 2: DESIGN AND METHODOLOGY 4

Chapter 3: RESULTS AND DISCUSSION 5

Chapter 4: CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATION 7

REFERENCES 8

APPENDICES 9

APPENDIX A : DEFINITION OF TERMS 9

APPENDIX B : CALCULATION / COMPUTATION 10

APPENDIX C: LIST OF APPARATUS 11

APPENDIX D: MATERIAL SAFETY DATA SHEET 12

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 LIST OF TABLES

Table 3.1 Data for the experimental value of density for Water 5

Table 3.2 Data for the experimental value of density for Chloroform 6

Table 3.3 Data for the experimental value of density for Methanol 6

Table E.1 Hydrochloric acid MSDS 15

Table E.1.1 Section 1: Chemical Product 15

Table E.1.2 Composition and Information on Ingredients 16

Table E.1.3 Hazards Identification 16

Table E.1.4 First Aid Measures 17

Table E.1.5 Fire and Explosion Data 18

Table E.2 Chloroform MSDS 19

Table E.2.1 Chemical Product 20

Table E.2.2 Composition and Information on Ingredients 20

Table E.2.3 Hazards Identification 21

Table E.2.4 First Aid Measures 21

Table E.2.5 Fire and Explosion Data 22

Table E.3 Methanol MSDS 23

Table E.3.1 Chemical Product 23

Table E.3.2 Composition and Information on Ingredients 24

Table E.3.3 Hazards Identification 24

Table E.3.4 First Aid Measures 25

Table E.3.5 Fire and Explosion Data 26

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 LIST OF FIGURES

Figure D.1: Cleaning the apparatus with hydrochloric acid followed by distilled water

Figure D.2: Drying the apparatus using drying oven

Figure D.3: blowing and suctioning of the air inside the large test tube

Figure D.4: measuring the height of the liquid inside the capillary tube from the meniscus

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 ABSTRACT

The density of a substance is the ratio of its mass to its volume. Mathematically, density, , is

expressed as: =, where m is mass and v is volume. Density is also affected by pressure

and temperature (especially gases). The density of a given liquid was obtained using a

pycnometer. A pycnometer is a flask with a close-fitting glass stopper (or a thermometer)

with a fine hole through it, so that a given volume can be accurately obtained. This enables

the density to be measured accurately, by reference to an appropriate working fluid such as

water, using an analytical balance. The values of density for chloroform and methanol was

measured in reference to the measured value of the density of water using the same

pycnometer. The temperatures of the liquids were also measured. Three trials were conducted

in each of the liquids for accuracy. The derived working equation for the densities of

chloroform and methanol was: =22. Percent errors, with true

values obtained from the Perrys Chemical Engineers Handbook, are very minimal resulting

to values: 0.0501% for water, 0.3971% for chloroform, and 2.0382% for methanol.

Keywords: Density, Pycnometer

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