Determination of Density of a Liquid

Department of Chemical Engineering, College of Engineering and Architecture

Cebu Institute of Technology – University
N. Bacalso Ave. Cebu City, 6000 Philippines

Abstract
The experiment aims to understand the principle of density measurements of liquids using different
density measuring apparatuses namely Pycnometer, Westphal balance and Hydrometer. The
density of the substance can be calculated easily with the use of its specific gravity and multiplying
it to the standard density of the substance like water. The solution used was a mixture of sucrose
or sugar and Solution. Four (4) solutions were prepared with a 200ml of Distilled water with
different masses of the sucrose, (25g, 50g, 75g and 100g). To determine its density, a standard
temperature was applied at 25°C. The experiment justifies the idea that the density of the solution
will increase along with the concentration of the solute.

1. Introduction:
 Density is defined as the ratio of mass to volume of a substance. The ratio of mass to
volume which is Density, is intensive despite knowing that both mass and volume are extensive
properties. Extensive properties are dependent on the amount of matter being used while Intensive
properties does not depend on the amount of the substance present. For liquids and gases, density
can be achieve by measuring independently the mass and the volume using measuring scales and
graduated cylinder. For Solids, mass can be found in measuring the mass of the sample by
weighing. Volume of a regular solid can be found using its dimensions. For irregular solids,
displacement is used. Knowing the density of the substance can be useful for further calculations
like specific volume. If expressed mathematically, density is: (ρ = mass / volume). Due to the
volumetric expansion, the volume of an object increases with an increasing temperature with that
in mind, the temperature should remain constant in determining the density of the substance.

No general formula present in calculating the density of liquids so certain density

measuring apparatuses were used to determine the density of the liquid. For this experiment,
Pycnometer, Westphal balance and Hydrometer were used.

A Pycnometer, otherwise known as a specific gravity bottle is a tool made out of glass to
determine the density of a liquid sample. It has a close fitting glass stopper along with a capillary
tube in which the capillary tube allows air to pass through the apparatus. The main purpose of a
pycnometer is to measure the density of liquids with precision.

A Westphal balance is an arm equipped having a plummet of known volume and mass.
The arm is immersed in the liquid solution and the system is then rebalanced with the use of mass
weights on the notches on the beam.

A hydrometer is used to determine the specific gravity of liquids which is relative to

density. Typically long, glass cylinder in shape and is weighted at the bottom for it to give stability
in water. Usually used for winemakers to determine the sugar content of wine.
 Standard Temperature must be observed to get the density. If there is no standard in
temperature, it is hard to get the density of the substance correctly. Specific gravity is determined
first and multiplied to the density of water at a specific temperature for an easier and convenient
way to get the density of a liquid.

This experiment aims to understand the principles of density of liquids with the usage of
density measuring apparatuses like pycnometer, westphal balance and hydrometer.
2. Materials and Methods:

2. 1 Materials and Apparatus

The Apparatuses used for this experiment are: (1) Westphal's Balance; (2) Pycnometer; (3)
Hydrometer; (4) Victormeyer flask; (5) Digital Balance; (6) 250 and 550 ml Erlenmeyer flask; and
(7) Water bath. Materials required for this experiment includes: (1) 4 Liters of Distilled water; (2)
500g Crushed Ice; and (3) 1 kilogram of Refined Sucrose or Refined Sugar.

2. 2 Methods

Four (4) Sucrose Solutions were prepared for this experiment. The sucrose solution was
made by mixing a 200 ml of Distilled Water and Sucrose in an Erlenmeyer flask. Each Erlenmeyer
flask has a different level of concentration because of the variety of sucrose added in each
Erlenmeyer flask. 25g, 50g, 75g and 100g of Sucrose was added in a 200ml Erlenmeyer flask. The
solution was immersed in a water bath for the solution to maintain the temperature of 25°C
allowing the temperature of the sucrose solution to be stable.

2.2.1 Measuring the density of any liquid using a Pycnometer

To determine the density of the Sucrose solution using a Pycnometer, the Pycnometer used
should be clean, dry and no contaminants are present. The empty pycnometer is weighed and was
filled with a distilled water at STP of 25°C. Subtracting the weight of the empty pycnometer with
the weight of the pycnometer with the sucrose solution to determine weight of the liquid. This
process was repeated for the other Sucrose solutions prepared with different concentrations. After
which, Specific gravity was looked for.

2.2.2 Measuring the density of any liquid using a Westphal Balance

To determine the density of the Sucrose solution using a Westphal Balance, one must
calibrate the Westphal Balance first. Filling in the glass cylinder of about 2/3 full of distilled water,
pre-cooled and has a standard temperature of 25°C. A 5g mass is added in the hook holding the
plummet, and the leveling screw. After which, the glass cylinder was emptied and made the
plummet and cylinder dry or rinsed with new liquid solution, it was then added with the Sucrose
solution which its density has yet to be determined. Graded riders were placed in the notched beam
for the indicator points of the balance will coincide. Reading shows the solution's specific gravity
at standard condition. This procedure was repeated to the other Sucrose solution with different
concentration.

2.2.3 Measuring the density of any liquid using a Hydrometer

800ml of Distilled water was placed in a 1L Graduated cylinder with the standard
temperature of 25°C. The liquid was given time to stabilize its temperature and removing the air
bubbles that is present on the walls of the flask/cylinder. The hydrometer was then placed inside
the 1L graduated cylinder and sank into the water to a level of two smallest scale divisions below,
causing it to float and release it. Once stabilize, read the hydrometer. The process was in repetition
for the sucrose solutions with different concentrations.
3. Results
3.1 Tabulated Data

Readings Specific Gravity Density Temperature

Liquid Sample
(grams) (kg/ m3) (g/ml) (°C)
Water 25.18 1.01 1.01 25
Solution 1 26.41 1.06 1.06 25
Solution 2 27.03 1.08 1.08 25
Solution 3 27.66 1.11 1.11 25
Solution 4 28.8 1.16 1.15 25

Table A.1 Results using Pycnometer

Readings Specific Gravity Density Temperature

Liquid Sample
(grams) (kg/ m3) (g/ml) (°C)
Water 9 1.001 1
Solution 1 9 1.0502 1.05
Solution 2 3 and 7 1.08 1.08
Solution 3 3 and 8 1.1109 1.11
Solution 4 8 and 3 1.15 1.15

Table A.2 Results using Westphal Balance

Liquid Sample Readings Specific Gravity Density Temperature

(grams) (kg/ m3) (g/ml) (°C)
Water 1 1
Solution 1 1.049 1.05
Solution 2 1.074 1.07
Solution 3 1.107 1.1
Solution 4 1.16 1.16

Table A.3 Results using Hydrometer

3.2 Graphed Data

Pycnometer
1.2

1.15

1.1

1.05

0.95

0.9
Water Solution 1 Solution 2 Solution 3 Solution 4

Density

Graph A.1 Graphed Results of the density of the

solution with different concentration using a Pycnometer

Westphal Balance
1.2

1.15

1.1

1.05

0.95

0.9
Water Solution 1 Solution 2 Solution 3 Solution 4

Density

Graph A.2 Graphed Results of the density of the

solution with different concentration using a Westphal Balance
 Hydrometer
1.2

1.15

1.1

1.05

0.95

0.9
Water Solution 1 Solution 2 Solution 3 Solution 4

Density

Graph A.3 Graphed Results of the density of the

solution with different concentration using a Hydrometer
4. Discussion of Results

For this experiment, distilled water is used to ensure no underlying minerals present in the
water as distillation kills most organic matter and it removes minerals from the water which is
necessary to eliminate when water is used for laboratory experiment to identify if a chemical
reaction takes place or not.

The results of the experiment showed the relative densities of four solutions having
different mass of sucrose (25g, 50g, 75g and 100g). As the mass of sucrose increases, the volume
remained constant giving the four (4) different solutions a different level of concentration. The
results show that with the increase of concentration of the solute in the solution, it produces an
increase in the specific gravity and density. This can be seen visually using the graph found in the
results section of the report.

Similar results reflected using the different density measuring apparatuses. The data may
be correct but some, if not all of them are not accurate due to certain errors that happened during
the experiment. Errors can be due to the constant change of temperature, the solute is not 100%
sucrose or sugar, apparatuses used were not calibrated well or the apparatuses' limitation in
determining the density of the liquid, the solute is not 100% sucrose or sugar.

The pycnometer may have the most accurate measurement of density out of the number of
apparatuses used for this experiment. This is because the volume is constant by the capillary hole.

The second apparatus that has the in-between accurate measurement of density of a liquid
would be the Westphal balance. For the plummet emerged is rebalanced using the mass weights
giving data that is the close to being 100% accurate.

The third apparatus that gives a least accuracy in terms to measuring the density of the
liquid is the Hydrometer. It is difficult to find stability when a floating hydrometer is used. Also,
the hydrometer's graduations does not show three to four decimal places which gives the
experimenter the benefit of the doubt of the unreadable decimal places.
5. Conclusion

Measuring the specific gravity first and multiplying it to a standard density of a substance
like water is the most convenient way to attain the density of a liquid.

Different density measuring apparatus does have limitations in getting the density of the
substance. Some of which only gives the density of a substance in a standard temperature or it
gives the specific gravity of the substance then the experimenter will do the calculations to get the
density of the substance.

Knowing the density of substance can ease one's job in finding other unknowns as density
can be used to find mass, volume, or specific gravity.
6. References

[1] Masterton, W. L., Hurley, C. N., & Neth, E. (2012). Chapter 1: Matter and Measurements. In
General Chemistry (Philippine Edition ed., p. 31).

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