Experiment No.

1
SPECIFIC GRAVITY OF HYDRAULIC CEMENT
(ASTM C 188-78 Density of Hydraulic Cement)

(JIS R 201-81 Physical Testing Method of Cement)

OBJECTIVE:
To determine the specific gravity of cement sample using La Chatelier’s flask.

SCOPE:
Specific Gravity is just a comparison between weight of a volume of a particular material to the
weight of the same volume of water at a specified temperature. It is a value to calculate whether the
material is to sink or float on water. Every material has some specific gravity. The value is digits like 0.1-
100. If the value is less than 1, then the material will float on water. If the value is greater than 1, then
the material will sink.

APPARATUS AND MATERIALS:

 Le Chatelier’s flask
 Water bath and thermometer
 Rubber pad or rags
 Funnel
 Analytical balance
 Kerosene
 Cement

PRECAUTION:
1. Use only kerosene for washing the flask and never use water.
2. To obtain an accurate result maintain the temperature of kerosene 20 ± 0.1 degree Celsius

TEST PROCEDURE:
1. Fill the flask with kerosene to a mark on the stem between the 0 and the 1cm mark. Use a
clean absorbent cloth to dry inside of the flask if there are any drops above the liquid level.
2. Place the flask in a constant temperature bath of 20 ± 0.1 degree Celsius and immersed not
less than to 40 minutes.
3. Read and record the initial height of the kerosene in the flask and this will be your initial
reading (R1). The constant temperature bath should be maintained at a temperature such
that its temperature variation between the initial and final readings within the flask does
not vary more than 0.2 degree Celsius. Be sure to read the lower meniscus.
 4. Prepare the cement sample. Carefully introduce about 64 grams of cement, weighed to the
nearest 0.1 gram.
5. Remove the flask from the water bath and put the cement into the flask. Slightly shake the
flask while placing the cement. Try to avoid the cement adhering to the inside of the flask or
sticking to the neck and all cement shall be fall under the kerosene level. The cement should
be introduced slowly through a funnel.
6. Place the stopper on the flask. Take off the lead weight and manipulate the flask to remove
air bubbles from the flask.
7. Return the flask to the water bath and check the temperature if it still the same
temperature bath of 20 ± 0.1 degree Celsius. Time to be immersed should at least 40
minutes.
8. Remove the flask from the water bath. Read and record the final height of kerosene in the
flask and this will be your Final Reading (R f). the final reading should at least range of 18 cc
to 24 cc.
Wc

CALCULATION:
Wc
Specifi Gravity=
Rf −Ri
Where:

Wc = Weight of cement sample in air (g)

Rf = Final reading of kerosene level (cc)

Ri = Initial reading of kerosene level (cc)

DATA AND COMPUTATION:

TRIAL WEIGHT OF CEMENT (Wc) INITIAL READING (Ri) FINAL READING (Rf)
1 64 g 0.1 21.1

64
SpecificGravity=
21.1−0.1
SpecificGravity=3.04 8
DISCUSSION:
The specific gravity of cement is the ratio of its density to the density of water at 4 degrees
Celsius. Getting the specific gravity of cement can give to us the density of cement and it needed for
designing of our concrete. If the cement was exposed to the environment for a long period of time, its
specific gravity will change. Normally the specific gravity that we are using for our concrete was 3.19, if
the specific gravity of cement was greater than 3.19 maybe the cement wasn’t well grained or too
moisture in the pores of cement. Getting a higher than 3.19 specific gravity may affect the ratio and
proportion of our mixtures and the workability.

OBSERVATION:
The cement had a pores or voids and some air inside. So, to remove it we need to shake the
flask while we are putting the cement inside the flask with kerosene. Because if there is too much air in
our cement and you put it inside the flask. The significance of ridding of air inside of our sample is
maximize the volume of flask for our cement and fluid. If there was too much volume that was
consuming by air, the weight of our sample will be less than the expected value.

ILLUSTRATION:

Water bath the flask with kerosene

Fill the flask with kerosene at the temperature of
20±1 degree Celsius

Place the flask with kerosene and

Cement in water bath at the
temperature of 20±1 degree Celsius Put the cement in flask with Prepare a 64grams of
kerosene and shake it while putting cement.
it. After that place the stopper.

CONCLUSION:
 The determination of specific gravity of a cement can be determine by using La Chatelier’s flask.
By getting the weight of concrete and the initial volume of fluid inside the flask and the final volume of
concrete and fluid inside the flask.

T C P A TOTAL
SELF
GROUP LEADER
GROUP MEMBER

T = TIME
C = COOPERATIVE
P = PARTICIPATION
A = ACCURACY