An American National Standard

Designation: D 1217 – 93 (Reapproved 2007)

Standard Test Method for

Density and Relative Density (Specific Gravity) of Liquids by
Bingham Pycnometer1
This standard is issued under the fixed designation D 1217; the number immediately following the designation indicates the year of
original adoption or, in the case of revision, the year of last revision. A number in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval. A
superscript epsilon (e) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
This standard has been approved for use by agencies of the Department of Defense.

1. Scope density of water is unity, relative density (specific gravity) and

1.1 This test method covers the measurement of the density density are numerically equal.
of pure hydrocarbons or petroleum distillates boiling between 4. Summary of Test Method
90 and 110°C that can be handled in a normal fashion as a
liquid at the specified test temperatures of 20 and 25°C. 4.1 The liquid sample is introduced into a pycnometer,
1.2 This test method provides a calculation procedure for equilibrated to the desired temperature, and weighed. The
the conversion of density to relative density (specific gravity). relative density (specific gravity) or density is then calculated
1.3 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as the from this weight and the previously determined weight of
standard. The values given in parentheses are for information water that is required to fill the pycnometer at the same
only. temperature, both weights being corrected for the buoyancy of
1.4 This standard does not purport to address all of the air.
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the 5. Significance and Use
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro-
priate safety and health practices and determine the applica- 5.1 Density is a fundamental physical property which can be
bility of regulatory limitations prior to use. Specific warning used in conjunction with other properties to characterize pure
statements are given in Section 7. hydrocarbons and their mixtures.
5.2 This test method was originally developed for the
2. Referenced Documents determination of the density of the ASTM Knock Test Refer-
2.1 ASTM Standards: 2 ence Fuels n-heptane and isooctane, with an accuracy of
E 1 Specification for ASTM Liquid-in-Glass Thermometers 0.00003 g/mL. Although it is no longer employed extensively
for this purpose, this test method is useful whenever accurate
3. Terminology densities of pure hydrocarbons or petroleum fractions with
3.1 Definitions: boiling points between 90 and 110°C are required.
3.1.1 density—the weight in vacuo, (that is, the mass) of a 6. Apparatus
unit volume of the material at any given temperature.
3.1.2 relative density (specific gravity)—the ratio of the 6.1 Pycnometer, Bingham-type,3 conforming to the dimen-
mass (weight in vacuo) of a given volume of material at a sions given in Fig. 1, constructed of borosilicate glass, and
temperature, t1, to the mass of an equal volume of water at a having a total weight not exceeding 30 g.
reference temperature, t2; or it is the ratio of the density of the 6.2 Constant-Temperature Bath, provided with suitable py-
material at t1 to the density of water at t2. When the reference cnometer holders or clips and means for maintaining tempera-
temperature is 4.00°C, the temperature at which the relative tures constant to 60.01°C in the desired range.
6.3 Bath Thermometer, graduated in 0.1°C subdivisions and
standardized for the ice point and the range of use to the nearest
1
0.01°C. ASTM Saybolt Viscosity Thermometer 17C as pre-
This test method is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee D02 on
Petroleum Products and Lubricants and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee
scribed in Specification E 1, designed for tests at 21.1°C and
D02.04.0D on Physical and Chemical Methods.
Current edition approved Dec. 1, 2007. Published January 2008. Originally
3
approved in 1952. Last previous edition approved in 2003 as D 1217–93(2003)e1. The sole source of supply of the pycnometer known to the committee at this
2
For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or time is Reliance Glass Co., 220 Gateway Rd., Bensenville, IL 60106-0825. If you
contact ASTM Customer Service at [email protected]. For Annual Book of ASTM are aware of alternative suppliers, please provide this information to ASTM
Standards volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on International Headquarters. Your comments will receive careful consideration at a
the ASTM website. meeting of the responsible technical committee,2 which you may attend.

Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959, United States.

1
 D 1217 – 93 (2007)
6.9 Weights, whose relative values are known to the nearest
0.05 mg or better. The same set of weights shall be used for the
calibration of the pycnometer and the determination of densi-
ties.
7. Reagents and Materials
7.1 Acetone—(Warning—Extremely flammable. Use ad-
equate ventilation.)
7.2 Isopentane—(Warning—Extremely flammable. Avoid
buildup of vapors and remove all sources of ignition, especially
non-explosion proof electrical apparatus.)
7.3 Chromic Acid (Potassium Dichromate/Conc. Sulfuric
Acid)—(Warning—Causes severe burns. A recognized car-
cinogen. Do not get in eyes, or on skin or clothing.)
8. Preparation of Apparatus
8.1 Thoroughly clean the pycnometer with hot chromic acid
cleaning solution by means of the assembly shown in Fig. 4.
Chromic acid solution (Warning—See 7.3) is the most effec-
tive cleaning agent. However, surfactant cleaning fluids have
also been used successfully. Mount the apparatus firmly and
connect the trap to the vacuum. Warm the necessary amount of
cleaning acid in the beaker, place the pycnometer on the
ground joint, and evacuate by opening the stopcock to vacuum.
Fill the pycnometer with acid by turning the stopcock, repeat
several times or remove the filled pycnometer, and allow it to
stand for several hours at 50 to 60°C. Remove the acid from the
pycnometer by evacuation, empty the acid from the trap, and
flush the pycnometer with water. Cleaning should be made in
FIG. 1 Bingham-Type Pycnometer, 25 mL this manner whenever the pycnometer is to be calibrated or
whenever liquid fails to drain cleanly from the walls of the
pycnometer or its capillary. Ordinarily, the pycnometer may be
25°C, is recommended. A standardized platinum resistance cleaned between determinations by washing with a suitable
thermometer may also be used, and offers the best means for solvent, rinsing with pure, dry acetone, followed by isopentane,
observing minute temperature changes in the bath. Whichever and vacuum drying.
means are available, it must be realized that for most hydro- 8.2 Transfer the pycnometer to the cleaner assembly shown
carbons the density coefficient is about 0.0008 units/°C, and in Fig. 3, with vacuum line and trap attached to the side tube
therefore an error of 60.013°C would cause an error of as indicated. Place the pycnometer on the cleaner with the
60.00001 in density. upper hypodermic needle extending upward into the pycnom-
6.4 Hypodermic Syringe, 30-mL capacity, of chemically eter, and press the edge of the ground joint on the rubber
resistant glass, equipped with a 152-mm (6-in.) needle made of stopper until the vacuum holds it in place. Draw out all the
stainless steel tubing as shown in Fig. 2. liquid or sample. Immerse the lower end of the hypodermic
6.5 Draw-Off Needle, made of stainless steel tubing as tube in a suitable solvent and draw 20 to 25 mL through the
shown in Fig. 2. pycnometer. Leaving the pycnometer in place, draw air through
6.6 Solvent-Cleaning Assembly, as shown in Fig. 3. it until it is dry. Clean the hypodermic syringe with the same
6.7 Chromic Acid Cleaning Apparatus, similar to that apparatus.
shown in Fig. 4.
6.8 Balance, capable of reproducing weighings within 0.1 9. Calibration of Pycnometer
mg. Mechanical balances should have sensitivity which causes 9.1 Proceeding as directed in Section 10, determine the
the pointer to be deflected 2 or 3 scale divisions per 1 mg when weight of freshly-boiled and cooled distilled water (distilled
carrying a load of 30 g or less on each pan. The balance should from alkaline permanganate through a tin condenser) held by
be located in a room shielded from drafts and fumes and in the pycnometer when equilibrated to volume at the bath
which the temperature changes between related weighings temperature to be used in the determination. Repeat until at
(empty and filled pycnometer) do not cause a significant least three values agree to 60.2 mg.
change in the ratio of the balance arms. Otherwise weighings
shall be made by the method of substitution, in which the 10. Procedure
calibrated weights and pycnometer are alternately weighed on 10.1 Using another 25-mL pycnometer as a tare (Note 1),
the same balance pan. The same balance shall be used for all weigh the clean, dry pycnometer to 0.1 mg and record the
related weighings. weight.

2
 D 1217 – 93 (2007)

FIG. 2 Accessories for Bingham-Type Pycnometer

FIG. 3 Cleaner Assembly for Bingham-Type Pycnometer

NOTE 1—It is convenient to use the lightest of a set of pycnometers as non-explosion proof electrical apparatus) in the bulb or capil-
a tare. For best results the treatment and environment of both pycnometer lary of the pycnometer. If any are present, draw them into the
and tare should be identical for some time prior to weighing.
syringe where possible. Also remove with the syringe or
10.2 Cool the sample to 5 to 10°C below the test tempera- draw-off needle any liquid above the calibration mark in the
ture, and fill the clean 30-mL hypodermic syringe. Transfer the capillary or overflow reservoir. Dry the remainder with a cotton
sample to the pycnometer through the filling needle; avoid fiber pipe cleaner or cotton swab which has been dampened
trapping air bubbles (Warning—Extremely flammable. Avoid slightly with acetone.
buildup of vapors and remove all sources of ignition, especially

3
 D 1217 – 93 (2007)

FIG. 4 All-Glass Pycnometer Cleaner Assembly for Use with Hot Chromic Acid Cleaning Solution

NOTE 2—For work of highest accuracy on pure compounds, dissolved where:

air may be removed from the sample by repeated freezing and remelting Ws = weight in air of sample contained in the pycnometer
of the sample under vacuum in the pycnometer.
at the test temperature, g,
10.3 Close the pycnometer with the glass stopper and Ww = weight in air of the water contained in the pycnom-
immerse it to a point above the calibration mark in the eter at the calibration temperature, g,
constant-temperature bath adjusted to a constancy of 60.01°C dw = density of water at the calibration temperature, as
at the desired temperature. Periodically, or before the liquid obtained from Table 1,
expands into the overflow chamber, remove the stopper, raise da = density of air in balance case at the time of weigh-
the pycnometer sufficiently to expose the calibration mark to ing, as calculated from 10.3,
view, and readjust the liquid level to the mark by withdrawing dwt = density of weights used in weighing the sample and
liquid through the steel draw-off needle until expansion has water (brass = 10.4 g/mL, stainless steel = 7.75
stopped, indicating that the liquid has reached the temperature g/mL), and
of the thermostat. Do not allow the liquid to expand more than ds = approximate density of sample or
10 mm above the calibration mark at any time, to minimize
errors caused by faulty drainage. Allow the contents to equili- ~Ws 3 d!/Ww (2)
brate an additional 10 min and draw the level down exactly to
the calibration line, avoiding parallax and using a magnifier, if 11.2 The equation assumes that the weighings of the pyc-
necessary, to obtain good visibility. Remove any liquid adher- nometer empty and filled are made in such a short time interval
ing to the walls above the calibration mark, with the draw-off that the air density has not changed. If significant change
needle or pipe cleaner, depending upon the volatility of the should occur, the calculated apparent weight of the sample, Ws,
sample. Portions in the overflow bulb may be removed with a in this equation, must be corrected for the difference in air
cotton swab moistened with acetone. buoyancy exerted on the pycnometer as follows:
10.4 Replace the glass stopper, remove the pycnometer Ws 5 W2PS 2 W8p~1 1 ~d8a/2.2!
from the bath, wash the outside surface with acetone, and dry 2 ~d8a/dwt!!/~1 1 ~da2/2.2! 2 ~da2/dwt!! (3)
thoroughly with a chemically clean, lint-free, slightly damp
cloth. Place the pycnometer in or near the balance case for 20 where:
min and weigh to the nearest 0.1 mg. In atmospheres of low W2PS = weight of pycnometer and contained sample under
humidity (60 % or lower), drying the pycnometer by rubbing second or final air density,
with a dry cotton cloth will induce static charges equivalent to W8P = weight of pycnometer in air of first density,
a loss of about 1 mg in the weight of the pycnometer. This d8a = density of air when weighing empty pycnometer,
charge need not be completely dissipated in less than 30 min. da2 = density of air when weighing filled pycnometer,
The use of about 0.1-mg radium bromide- or polonium-coated dwt = density of weights, and
foil in the balance case, or maintaining the relative humidity at 2.2 = borosilicate glass.
60 % or higher, aids in reducing weighing difficulties due to Likewise, if the pycnometer, empty and filled with water for
static charges. calibration, is weighed under different air densities a similar
10.5 Record temperature of the balance, barometric pres- correction for different air buoyancies shall be applied.
sure, and relative humidity. 11.3 Calculate the relative density (specific gravity) of the
sample by dividing the density as obtained in 11.1 by the
11. Calculation relative density of water at the reference temperature obtained
11.1 Calculate the true density of the sample as follows: from Table 1.
Density, g/mL at °C 5 Ws~1 1 ~da/ds! 2 ~da/dwt!!dw/Ww~1 1 ~da/dw! 11.4 Calculate the density of air in the balance room as
2 ~da/dwt!! (1) follows:

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 D 1217 – 93 (2007)
TABLE 1 Density of WaterA 1 1 9.6 3 1026 ~t 2 tc! (5)
Temper- Density, Temper- Density, Temper- Density,
ature, °C g/mL ature, °C g/mL ature, °C g/mL
12. Report
0 0.999840 21 0.997991 40 0.992212
3 0.999964 22 0.997769 45 0.990208 12.1 In reporting density, give the test temperature and the
4 0.999972 23 0.997537 50 0.988030 units (for example, density, 20°C = x.xxxxx g/mL). In report-
5 0.999964 24 0.997295 55 0.985688 ing relative density (specific gravity), give both the test
10 0.999699 25 0.997043 60 0.983191
15 0.999099 26 0.996782 65 0.980546 temperature and the reference temperature, but no units (for
15.56 0.999012 27 0.996511 70 0.977759 example, relative density (specific gravity), 20/4°C = x.xxxxx).
16 0.998943 28 0.996231 75 0.974837
Carry all calculations to one digit beyond the last significant
17 0.998774 29 0.995943 80 0.971785
18 0.998595 30 0.995645 85 0.968606 figure, but report the final result to the fifth decimal place
19 0.998404 35 0.994029 90 0.965305 (0.00001).
20 0.998203 37.78 0.993042 100 0.958345
A
Densities conforming to the International Temperature Scale 1990 (ITS 90) 13. Precision and Bias
were extracted from Appendix G, Standard Methods for Analysis of Petroleum and
Related Products 1991, Institute of Petroleum, London. 13.1 Precision—Results, using the 25-mL Bingham-type
pycnometer, should not differ from the mean by more than the
Air density ~da!, g/mL following amounts:
5 [~B – 0.3783 Hp!~0.000465!#/~273 1 t! Repeatability Reproducibility
(4) One Operator and Different Operators
Apparatus and Apparatus
where:
0.00002 0.00003
B = barometric pressure, mm Hg, corrected to 0°C,
H = relative humidity, decimal fraction, NOTE 4—The precision for this test method was not obtained in
p = vapor pressure of water at temperature t, mm Hg, and accordance with Research Report RR:D02-1007.4
t = room temperature, °C. 13.2 Bias—The difference of results from the established
NOTE 3—If this test method is to be used frequently, a considerable values when compared to pure reference materials is not
amount of calculation can be avoided by use of a gas density balance to expected to be more than 60.00003 g/mL. Specific bias has not
determine the air density. Weigh a sealed 250-mL glass bulb at several been established by cooperative testing.
different air densities and plot the weight against the air density. To
determine the air density at some later time, weigh the bulb and read the
14. Keywords
air density from the point on the curve corresponding to the weight.
14.1 density; pycnometer; relative density; specific gravity
11.5 To calculate the density or relative density (specific
gravity) at any test temperature, t, other than the calibration
temperature, tc (to correct for the cubical coefficient of thermal
expansion of borosilicate glass), divide the value obtained in 4
Filed at ASTM International Headquarters and may be obtained by requesting
10.1 or 10.2 by the following expression: Research Report RR:D02-1007.

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