The Density of Liquids and Solids

Nadia Yuliasari, Nadila Shafira Kusnadi, and

Muhammad Ihsan Taparobu

Physical Chemistry Laboratory, Chemical Engineering Department FTI ITS

ITS Sukolilo Campus, Surabaya 60111

Report Info ABSTRACT

Report History: The purposes of this experiments was to determine density of

Experiment 4 October 2018 water, density and thickness of aluminum pieces using graph
Received 11 October 2018 analysis. The density of water was measured from its mass
1st revision 29 October 2018
which was measured with electric balance, divided by its
volume which is measured by using graduated cylinder. Then,
Thickness of alumunium was calculated from its mass which is
Keywords:
Density
measured with electronic balance, and measured width and
Liquid length which was measured with ruler. The result from
Temperature experiment density of water is 0.996 g/mL
Viscosity

1. Introduction
Substance can be defined as properties that has its mass and required space. Based on
their physical characteristics, substances can be divided to three types such as solid, water,
and gas. Every solid has its own density. It can also be applied in liquid and gas. (Hidayat,1979)
Every pure substance has its own characteristics of properties, it can be distinguished
from another substance. The properties used to identify a substance must be intensive , meaning
that it neither depend on the system size nor the amount of material in the system. Substance
may be identified on the basis of their chemical and physical properties. One of the particular
physical properties to identify substance is density. (Masterton. W.L., 2009)
Density is a measure of mass per unit volume, given by equation :
Density (𝜌)= Massa (m) / Volume (V) (1)
The base unit of mass in the International System of Units (SI) is therefore kg/m3. However,
we can generally use g/mL. The density of a substance is not fixed and permanent, it depends on
the pressure and temperature and state of aggregation. (Yavorsky, 1975)
The equation can be applied in a certain volume. However, if the volume of fluid is enormous,
such as dams, oceans, or atmosphere, the fluid density is not the same in every place. For
example, in the ocean, the higher the ocean level, the density will also be greater than in the
shallow side of ocean.( Abdullah , 2016)
By knowing the density of a substance, humans can create various types of material in
various fields. For example in the field of transportation, knowing the density of a substance
can create a submarine that can dive and reappear to the sea surface. In the field of density
development, it is used to determine suitable materials as building materials constructed. For
this purpose, this experiment was carried out which aimed to determine the density of a liquid
and solid objects.
Rigid objects are the shape of an object that does not change even though the object is in
a style, such as compressive force, frictional force, and so on. Almost all solid objects are
included in rigid objects, except those in the form of plasticine.

Nadila Shafira Kusnadi . Tel: +62 89 6569 58819
E-mail addres : nadilask01@gmail.com
 Yuliasari, N and Kusnadi,NS / Muhammad Ihsan Taparobu / Density of liquids and Solids

One of the main characteristics of fluid is the ability to flow. In addition, the shape of
the fluid always follows the shape of the container. In a bottle, the fluid form is the same as
the shape of the bottle, and in the box the shape of the fluid is the same as the shape of the
box. (Abdullah, 2007)
We review an object that is immersed in a fluid. The fluid will give pressure to each part
of the surface of the object. The compressive force on the deeper part is certainly greater
(because the pressure is greater). Therefore the total compressive force acting on the entire
surface of the object will cause a total upward force. The above style can be obtained as
follows. If at the place where the object was replaced with the same fluid as the environment,
it would certainly be in a state of equilibrium. So that the total upward force must be the
same as the weight of the fluid that replaced the object. This principle is well-known as
Archimedes' principle. So in an object that is dipped into a fluid there will be a total force
upward (buoyant force) which is equal to the weight of the fluid occupied by the object.
The buoyant force is the force that is directed upward by the fluid in the object that is
partially or completely submerged in the fluid. Floating force (Fa) is the difference between
the weight of the object in the air (wb, u) and the weight of the object in the fluid (wb, f):
Fa = wb, u - wb, f
Sound of Archimedes Law:
The buoyant force acting on an object that is partially or completely dipped into a fluid
is equal to the weight of the fluid transferred by the object.
Fa = ρf Vbf g
With ρf is the fluid density and Vbf is the volume of

2. Materials, Equipment, and Experiment Method

2.1 Material and Equipment
Equipment needed in experiment to determine the density of liquids and solids are beaker
glass 200 mL, graduated cylinder 100 mL, thermometer, electronic balance, suction rubber,
measuring pipette 25 mL, and ruler. Material needed in this experiment are water, alumunium
pieces
2.2 Experiment Method
For the first experiment is to determine the density of liquid. First, mass of graduated
cylinder 100 mL is measured with electronic balance. Then 22 mL water are added to the graduated
cylinder. Combined mass of water and graduated cylinder is measured with electronical balance.
These steps are repeated three times and did the same procedures for 24 mL and 26 mL Thermometer
is used to record temperature of water. Independent variable in this experiment are mass and
volume of water, dependent variable is density, and control variable is temperature. For second
experiment, alumunium piece’s width and length of copper are precisely measured with ruler.
Then, the mass is measured with electronic balance. These steps repeated three times. Mass of
each alumunium is measured with electronical balance. Volume of alumunium is measured by added
30 mL of water to the graduated cylinder, then precisely measure this volume. Alumunium is
added to graduated cylinder that contains water and new volume from water plus aluminum is
measured. Volume of alumunium is obtained from subtraction between combined volume and volume
of water itself. These steps are repeated three times until we obtain 3 sets of mass and volume
alumunium piece.

3. Result and Discussion

3.1 Experiment Result
3.2 Table 1. Results of Experiments and Calculation of Water Density
Mass of Graduated
Mass of Graduated Mass of Water Density
No. Cylinder + Water Volume (mL)
Cylinder (gram) (gram) (gram/mL)
(gram)
 Yuliasari, N and Kusnadi,NS / Muhammad Ihsan Taparobu / Density of liquids and Solids

1. 119.863 141.081 21.218 22 0.9645

2. 119.861 141.083 21.222 22 0.9646
3. 119.862 141.083 21.221 22 0.9645
X 119.862 141.082 21.220 22 0.9645

3.3
3.4 Table 2. Results of Experiments and Calculation of Water Density
No. Mass of Graduated Mass of Water Volume (mL)
Mass of Graduated Density
Cylinder + Water (gram)
Cylinder (gram) (gram/mL)
(gram)
1. 119.863 146.875 27.012 24 1.1255
2. 119.861 146.876 27.015 24 1.1256
3. 119.862 146.874 27.012 24 1.1255
X 119.862 146.875 27.013 24 1.1255

3.5
3.6 Table 3. Results of Experiments and Calculation of Water Density
Mass of Graduated
Mass of Graduated Mass of Water Density
No. Cylinder + Water Volume (mL)
Cylinder (gram) (gram) (gram/mL)
(gram)
1. 119.863 149.695 29.832 26 1.1474
2. 119.861 149.698 29.837 26 1.1476
3. 119.862 149.696 29.834 26 1.1475
X 119.862 149.696 29.834 26 1.1475

Table 4. Experiment Results and Calculation of Alumunium Thickness

Mass of Mass of Glass Mass of Volume of Length of Width of Thickness

Beaker Watch+ Copper Copper copper Copper of Copper
No.
Glass Alumunium (gram) (gram) (cm) (cm) (mm)
(gram) (gram)
1. 23.239 33.147 9.908 0.4 4 2
2. 23.240 33.152 9.911 0.4 4 2
3. 23.240 33.149 9.909 0.4 4 2 0.259
X 23.239 33.150 9.911 0.4 4 2

3.7 Discussion
The first experiment’s purposes are to determine the density of solid and liquid. First,
the density of water were obtained in this experiment are 0.965 gram/ mL, 1.250 gram/ mL,
1.147 gram/ mL these result is almost same as theory. The density of water in normal
conditions (1 atm, 25 C) is 1 gram/ mL. This different of result can be caused by various
factor. First, experiments carried out on the 2nd floor, which cause differences in pressure
and gravity. The density of a substance will increase as the pressure increase. (Abdullah,
2016). The increase in pressure causes the distance between the particles become closer so
the volume decreases. Besides that, the temperature in the room is 27°C, causes some water
to expand thus the volume of water will decreased and the density result will be lower than
in normal condition (Yavorsky, 1975).
Next experiment is to determine the thickness of alumunium pieces. Thickness of copper
obtained in this experiment is 0.259 mm. Whereas, the initial thickness is 0.3 mm. The
difference is caused by copper that used has been corroded. Corrosion occurs when copper
contact and react with chemical solution in the previous experiment. Effect of corrosion
 Yuliasari, N and Kusnadi,NS / Muhammad Ihsan Taparobu / Density of liquids and Solids

makes depletion in the copper. (Skazalos, 2007) . Next experiment is to determine the
density of alumunium fiber using graph analysis. Based on the graphical analysis experiment,
the following results were obtained:
The density of alumunium fiber obtained is 2.0419 g / mL. Density result is obtained
from the slope of the line. If the regression value approaches 1, this means that the
density obtained is more accurate. The actual density of alumunium is 2.7 g / mL. The
difference of result is caused by inaccuracy in calculating mass and volume of alumunium
and it is a blend with other type of material.

4. Conclusion
From experiment of determine density of liquids and solid, the density of water obtained
from the experiment is 0.996 gram / mL, thickness of copper obtained in the experiment is
0.259 mm and the density of alumunium fiber obtained from graphical analysis is 2.0419 g /
mL

5. References

Abdullah, M., 2016. Fisika Dasar 1. Bandung: Institut Teknologi Bandung.

Bahl, B. S. T. G., 1960. Essential of Physical Chemistry. New Delhi: S. Chand

& Co.

Geankoplis, C. J., 1997. Transport Process and Unit Operations. 3rd ed. New
Delhi: Prentice-Hall of

India.

Masterton. W.L., H. C. N., 2009. Chemistry : Principles and Reactions. 6th ed.
New York: Brooks/Cole

Cengage Learning.

Skazalos, P. H. G. W. G., 2007. Corrosion of Copper by Water. The

Electrochemical Society, pp. C63-C65.

Yavorsky, B. M. P. A., 1975. Fundamental of Physics. Moskow: Mir Publisher.

Young, H. D. F. R. A., 2016. University Physics with Modern Physics. New York:
Pearson.
 Yuliasari, N and Kusnadi,NS / Muhammad Ihsan Taparobu / Density of liquids and Solids

Appendix
Experiment 1

Part A : Density of Water

Mass of water = combined mass of Graduated cylinder and water – Mass of Graduated Cylinder

= 143.3 – 118.4 = 24.9 gram

𝜌 Water = m water / Vwater

= 24.9 gram / 25 mL = 0.996 gram / mL
Part B: Thickness of copper

Mass of copper = combined mass of glass watch and copper – mass of glass watch

= 33.5521 – 29.2757 = 4.2764 gram

Volume of copper = mass / density of copper

= 4.2764 gram / 8.96 gram/cm3 = 0.4772 cm3

Volume = height × width ×thickness

0.4772 = 1.8 × 10.2 × thickness

Thickness = 0.0259 cm = 0.259 mm

Part C: Graphical Analysis of Mass and Volume Data of an Unknown Solid

Mass of small aluminum = 30.998 – 29.2757 = 1.7123 gram

Mass of medium aluminum = 31.778 – 29.2757 = 2.5023 gram

Mass of large aluminum = 34.485 – 29.2757 = 4.728 gram

Volume of small aluminum = 51 – 50 mL = 1 mL

Volume of medium aluminum = 51.5 – 50 mL = 1.5 mL

Volume of large aluminum = 52.5 – 50 mL = 2.5

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