Lab: Exploring Density This laboratory provides you with a more in-depth look at density of materials and some of the various laboratory methods utilized to determine the density of solids and...

Chem 111 – Exploring Density
Lab Report
Activity 1: Determining the Densities of Regular Solids
Data Table 1
(1 point) Complete the table below based on Data Table 1: Determining the
Densities from your Investigation Manual.

Measurement Aluminum
(silver)
Acrylic
(clear)
Polyethylene
(white)
Mass (g) 13 6 5
Height (cm) 1.5 1.5 1.5
Diameter (cm) 2 2 2
Radius (cm)
*calculated value
1 1 1
Volume (cm3)
*calculated value
4.7123 4.7123 4.7123
Density (g/cm3)
*calculated value
2.7587 1.2732 1.0610
Post-Activity 1 Questions
1. (0.5 point) If you were given a rectangular solid instead of a cylindrical
solid, what would you do to determine the density of that solid? Write your
answer in a step by step procedural form.
In that case, the volume would be different L*B*H. Volume=
1.5*2.5*1=3.75cm3 density=mass/volume= 3.4/3.75= 0.9066g/cm3
1. (0.5 point) The accepted densities for the cylinders used in activity 1 are
shown in the table below. For each cylinder type, indicate the accuracy of
your calculated density in Activity 1. Accuracy is reflected by the
determination of percent error.
% error =
| ???????? ?????−???????? ????? |
x 100%

???????? ?????
Substance
Density
(g/cm3)
Aluminum 2.7
Acrylic 1.2
Polyethylene 0.9

2.17% error
2. (0.5 points) List two possible sources of error in this experiment.

There might be measurement issues. Temperature might hamper the
measurements.
Activity 2: Determining the Densities of Solutions
Data Table 2
(1 point) Complete the tables below based on Data Table 2: Density from your
Investigation Manual. Be careful when entering your data. (Note: The Density
column does not need to be completed unless the student does not have
the ability to set the y-intercept to zero when graphing. If the student cannot
set the y-intercept to zero, the densities are needed to determine average densities
for use to create the Activity 4 graph. If the student can set the y-intercept to zero
for each trendline, then the slope of the line is used for the graph in activity 4.)


Solution

Volume
(mL)
Mass of Solution
& Graduated
Cylinder (g)
Mass of
Graduated
Cylinder – dry
(g)
Mass of Solution
(g)
*calculated value
Density

*calculated value
Distilled
Water
5.0 37.57 32.25 5.32 1.064
10.0 41.25 32.25 9 0.9
15.0 44.35 32.25 12.1 0.80
20.0 47.47 32.25 15.22 0.76
25.0 52.24 32.25 19.99 0.799

10%
Sucrose
5.0 38.45 32.25 6.2 1.24
10.0 42.34 32.25 10.09 1.009
15.0 45.12 32.25 12.87 0.858
20.0 48.10 32.25 15.85 0.792
25.0 53.12 32.25 20.87 0.83
20%
Sucrose
5.0 38.99 32.25 6.74 1.348
10.0 42.89 32.25 10.64 1.064...