Chesapeake Campus – Chemistry 111 Laboratory

Objectives
 Calculate the density of a sugar solution.
 Evaluate lab sources of error and their effect on an experiment.

Introduction
The density of an object is defined as the ratio of its mass to its volume. We write this mathematically
by using the equations:
Mass
Density = Equation 1
Volume

For an example of density, consider the following: Imagine a brick that is made of Styrofoam.
Imagine a second brick that is made of lead. Note that even though the bricks take up the same
amount of space - that is, they have the same volume - there is a major difference in their mass. We
would say that the lead is denser, that is it has more mass in the same volume.
It is important to note that water has a density of 1.0 g/mL. Objects that have a density less
than water, that is, less than 1.0 g/mL, will float on the surface of the water. Those that have a density
greater than 1.0 g/mL will sink. Consider our two bricks again. The brick of Styrofoam will float if we
toss it into water. The lead will quickly sink.

Modern ship manufacturers make use of density when designing the ships they build. They
use materials that are denser than water but shape the materials so that they take up enough space
to float. Although the ships weigh several thousand tons, that mass takes up a lot of space. Overall,
the ship has a density less than water and therefore floats.
Two factors have an effect on the density of water:
1) Temperature will have a small effect on the density. For water, density increases as
temperature decreases. See Table 1 for the density of water at different temperatures.
2) If more dense materials are dissolved in the water, the solution density will increase.
We will see this effect in today's lab when we measure the effect of dissolving sucrose
on the density of water.

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 Temp (°C) dH2O (g/mL) Temp (°C) dH2O (g/mL)

18.0 0.99860 22.0 0.99777

18.5 0.99850 22.5 0.99765

19.0 0.99841 23.0 0.99754

19.5 0.99830 23.5 0.99742

20.0 0.99820 24.0 0.99730

20.5 0.99809 24.5 0.99716

21.0 0.99799 25.0 0.99704

21.5 0.99788 25.5 0.99690

Table 1 . Density of water at different temperatures

In this experiment you will test your laboratory technique by calibrating a 10 mL

graduated cylinder, making up an aqueous sucrose solution of a particular mass percent in
solute, and measuring the density of the solution with the calibrated graduated cylinder. The density
result will be evaluated by students for accuracy and precision. Since the correct density will
depend on a correctly prepared sugar solution, careful sample preparation will be critical.

There are many ways of describing the concentration of a solution. The mass percent of
solute in a solution is given by the symbol (w/w)% and the equation:

Mass of Solute
Mass % = x 100 Equation 2
Total Mass of Solution

The advantage of this type of concentration unit is that it depends only on the mass, which
is accurately measured with an analytical balance. It is not dependent on the temperature.

Note: Volumes are dependent on temperature. For example, a 10.000 mL volume of water will
increase by 0.016 mL when the temperature is raised from 18oC to 25oC. Table 1 gives the density
of water at different temperatures.

Another useful property is using the percent error to determine the amount a measurement is off from
the theoretical value. The equation for finding percent error is:

(Experimental Value−Theoretical Value)

Percent Error = x 100 Equation 3
Theoretical Value

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This allows us a more reasonable comparison of numbers than looking at the difference only because
the magnitude of the theoretical value is considered. A table of the theoretical values of density for
sucrose solutions of various (w/w)% is included in Table 2 below.

Mass % Density (g/mL) Mass % Density (g/mL)

0.00 1.000 12.50 1.051
2.50 1.011 15.00 1.062
5.00 1.021 17.50 1.073
7.50 1.030 20.00 1.084
10.00 1.042 22.50 1.102
Table 2: Theoretical Density Values of Sucrose Solutions with Known Mass Percent

Graphing Data
It is imperative students learn to properly organize and graph data. Students may
wish to review graphing data and calculating the slope prior to coming to lab this week if it
has been a few years since you have had a math course. A brief review is included here
but may not be sufficient for some students.

Manual graphs should always:

 Be drawn on graph paper (included within the lab handout).
 Include data points (and possibly the labels as well).
 Have labels for the graph itself (named Y vs. X), the axes (with both name
and units), and (if applicable) the legend.
 Be drawn large enough to visually see all components.
 Include axis scales that are appropriate (they may not start at 0, depending
on the data).
 Contain a line of best-fit.

Graphs done in Microsoft Excel should always

 Include all of the components of manual graphs.
 Be in the “scatter” chart type unless otherwise specified.
 Include the equation for the line of best fit.

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Materials

 Student tray containing the following:

o 1-50ml beaker
o 1-100ml beaker
o 1-150ml beaker
o 1-10ml graduated cylinder
o 1 stir rod
o 1 spatula
o 1 Plastic pipet
o 1 container of sucrose
o 1 DI water bottle
o Thermometer
 Student balance

Safety and Notes

 Goggles for this and ALL labs must be worn whenever any lab group is using chemicals
 The water used in the lab should be D.I. water not tap water.
 MSDS for sucrose is to be reviewed before class.
 Use all proper protective gear to include goggles, aprons, and gloves.
 All waste may be disposed of in the back hood. Use the container labeled “CHM 111 Waste.”
 Label ALL glassware with your name, date, chemicals and concentration according to TCC
policy.
 Return all materials to trays and drawers in a clean orderly condition for the next class.

Experimental Procedure

A. Preparation of the Sucrose Solution

1. The instructor will assign a sucrose concentration of between 5 and 15 % to each lab group.
Record the assigned concentration in your data sheet.
2. In the designated space of the data section, calculate the approximate mass of sucrose
that is needed to make a 100 g sample of the assigned concentration.
3. Obtain approval of the instructor before continuing.
4. Tare (zero) the scale to be used. Place a 150 mL beaker on the scale and record the
mass in your data section.
5. Add the approximate mass of the sucrose calculated to the beaker and record the mass
in the data section.
6. Add water to the beaker until you have reached ~100 g of solution (The mass will read the
beaker’s original mass + 100 grams). Record the final mass of the beaker, sucrose and water
in your data section.
7. You may need to gently swirl or stir to dissolve the sucrose.

B. Calibration of a 10.0 Graduated Cylinder

1. Record the temperature of the room.

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 2. Tare a 50 mL beaker on an analytical balance. (The balance should read zero with the
beaker on the measuring pan so that the beaker’s mass does not need to be subtracted
each time.)
3. Measure exactly 10.0 mL of DI (deionized) water using the graduated cylinder.
4. Transfer the water to the tared beaker and record the mass of the water added.
5. Pour the water down the drain.
6. Repeat this trial five times. Remember to tare the beaker each time it is weighed since it
might still contain residual water.
7. Use Table 1 from the Introduction and the temperature of the lab to calculate the volume of
DI water actually delivered by your graduated cylinder.

C. Mathematically Calculating the Density of Prepared Sucrose Solution

1. Tare a 50 mL beaker on an analytical balance.
2. Measure exactly 10.0 mL of the sucrose solution measured in Part A. using the graduated
cylinder.
3. Transfer the solution to the tared beaker and record the mass.
4. Pour the solution into a separate beaker. Do not dispose of it yet as you may need it later.
5. Repeat this trial five times. Remember to tare the beaker each time it is weighed since it
might still contain residual solution.
6. Use the recorded masses and the volume of the graduated cylinder (calibrated volume from
Part B) to calculate the density of the sucrose solution.

D. Graphically Calculating the Density of Prepared Sucrose Solution

1. For this section students will be gathering information to graph. The graph will then be used
to determine the density of the sucrose solution. Unlike Part C, the beaker should not be
tared or emptied before adding more solution.
2. Obtain the mass of a clean, dry 100 mL beaker. For this section, do not tare the beaker.
3. Measure exactly 10.0 mL of the sucrose solution measured in Part A. using the graduated
cylinder.
4. Transfer the solution to the beaker and record the mass.
5. Do not pour the solution out.
6. Measure another 10.0 mL of the sucrose solution and transfer it to the beaker. Record the
mass.
7. Repeat this trial five times.
8. Graph the recorded masses and calibrated volumes in your data Table D.
9. The y axis should be the mass in grams. The y-intercept should be the mass of your
beaker. You should scale your axis so that the data takes up most of the space. (Do not
start at 0).
10. The x axis should have units of volume in mL.
11. The slope of the data will have units g/mL (and therefore be the density of the sucrose
solution.

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Name ____________________________________________ Date ________________
Lab Partner Name___________________________________ Bin #________________
Pre-lab Assignment/Questions
 N o t e – this pre-lab must be finished before you come to lab. Remember to show your work
and use the correct number of significant figures for full credit.

1. A student measured the volume and mass of three samples of methanol and obtained the
results given below. Calculate the density for each sample, and then the mean (average) of the
three measurements. [Average = Sum of all densities / number of samples]

Mass Volume Density

(g) (mL) (g/mL)

4.029 5.10

3.704 4.71

3.952 5.03

Average Density =

2. A student is asked to make up approximately 40.0 g of a 29 % (w/w) sucrose solution. Use

Equation 2 from the introduction to calculate the g sucrose and g water needed to make this
solution.

3. The student made the solution with the following data. Calculate percent error of the solution if it
should have been 29% w/w sucrose.

Mass of empty flask: 83.148 g

Mass of flask with sucrose: 114.290g

Mass of sucrose

Mass of flask with water &

183.816
sucrose:

Mass of solution

Mass % of solution

Percent Error

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Name ____________________________________________ Date ________________
Lab Partner Name___________________________________ Bin #________________
Pre-lab Assignment/Questions Continued
4. While a 25 mL pipet should theoretically measure out exactly 25.00 mL, this is not always the
case. A student determined the actual volume of a 25 mL pipet by measuring the mass of the
water delivered by the pipet and then calculating the volume from the known density of water. The
density of water is 0.99820 g/mL at 20 o C. This measurement was done three times, and the
following results were obtained: Calculate the average volume delivered by the pipette and the
percent error of the pipet.

Mass Volume
Trial
(g) (mL)

1 24.926

2 24.915

3 24.941

Average Volume =

Percent Error =

5. The above problem is an example of how an instrument (in this case, a pipet) can be
calibrated. We expected the volume to be 25.00 mL, but the actual volume was significantly
less. If you had measured the density of an unknown with this pipet and assumed that V =
25.00 mL, your result would not be correct. Would it be too high or too low? Explain your
answer.

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Name ____________________________________________ Date ________________
Lab Partner Name___________________________________ Bin #________________
Experimental Data and Results

A. Preparation of the Sucrose Solution

Before you begin, calculate the approximate mass of sucrose and water needed. Show all work and use the
correct number of significant figures to receive full credit.

Assigned Sucrose Solution (%w/w)

Approximate mass of sucrose to be used

Approximate mass of D. I. water to be used

Record all data from the scale and determine the %w/w of the solution made.

Mass of beaker

Mass of sucrose + beaker

Mass of sucrose + beaker + water

Mass of sucrose

Mass of solution

Wt % of solution

B. Calibration of a 10.0 Graduated Cylinder

Record the temperature of the lab.

Temperature of Lab =

Density of water at this Temperature according to Table 1 = ______________________

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Name ____________________________________________ Date ________________
Lab Partner Name___________________________________ Bin #________________
Determine the volume of water using the mass of water delivered and the density of water from Table 1.
Mass of Water Volume of Water
Trial #
(g) (mL)

Average Volume Delivered =

**This is the calibrated volume used in Part
C!
Be sure to show an example of the calculations necessary to determine the volume of water delivered.

C. Mathematically Calculating the Density of Prepared Sucrose Solution

Mass of Solution Density of Solution
Trial #
(g) (g/mL)

Average Density =

Show an example of the calculations necessary to determine the volume of water delivered.

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Name ____________________________________________ Date ________________
Lab Partner Name___________________________________ Bin #________________

D. Graphically Calculating the Density of Prepared Sucrose Solution

In this section you will collect data to graph. You will graph the mass of the solution + beaker vs. the volume of
the solution.
Mass of Empty Beaker ___________________

Volume of Solution Mass of Solution + Beaker

Trial #
(mL) (g)

1
(1 x calibrated volume)

2
(2 x calibrated volume)

3
(3 x calibrated volume)

4
(4 x calibrated volume)

5
(5 x calibrated volume)

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Name ____________________________________________ Date ________________
Lab Partner Name___________________________________ Bin #________________

In the space below: plot a graph of mass on the y-axis versus volume on the x-axis. All graphs must have
each axis clearly labeled with numbers and units. The graph must have a title and legend. Draw a “best fit”
straight line through as many of the points as possible. You should use a ruler to draw the line. This graph
should not simply be a “connect the dots” line.

1. Find the slope of this line by using two of the most widely spaced data points you have measured which
come closest to the best fit straight line that you have drawn with your ruler. Remember,
rise
slope = = Δ y / Δ x = (y2 –y1) / (x2 – x1)
run
Slope of the line (density) __________________ g/mL

2. Calculate the % Error of the Density of the solution you made by comparing it to the theoretical density
in Table 2 from the introduction.
____________________

3. (Next, observe where the line intersects the y-axis. This number should be close to the mass of the
empty beaker containing 0 mL of the solution.

y-intercept of best fit line __________________ g

4. Calculate the % error comparing the y intercept value compared to the mass of the empty beaker.
_____________________

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Name ____________________________________________ Date ________________

Lab Partner Name___________________________________ Bin #________________

Post Lab Questions

1 . Which method that you used for the calculation of density of the sucrose solution is the most
accurate, Part C or D? Explain your answer.

2. When performing today’s lab, you measure the temperature of the lab during the
calibration of the graduated cylinder. You record the temperature as 2 degrees higher
than it actually is. How will this error affect the calculated density (will the resulting
calculated density be too high, too low or unaffected)?

3. When making the sucrose solution in Part A you measure the correct amount of sucrose
on the scale. However some of the sucrose was spilled on the balance and not into the
beaker. How will this error affect the calculated density (will the resulting calculated
density be too high, too low or unaffected)?

4. When trying to measure the density of your solution, you do not quantitatively transfer the
solution (there is still some in the graduated cylinder when you obtain the volume in Part
D). How will this error affect the calculated density (will the resulting calculated density
be too high, too low or unaffected)?

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