Lab Measurements

Introduction

Making accurate measurements is a task that health professionals are asked to do everyday. It is
important that these measurements be taken and recorded correctly as they offer important
information about the health of the patient and can help in the medical progression and diagnosis of
the patient. Examples of these measurements include body temperature, pulse, blood pressure, height,
weight, urine output, drug dosages, body fat readings, dilation etc.

Scientists are also called upon to make accurate measurements in order to gather data and carry out
experiments. All science labs require you to take measurements of mass, volume, temperature, length,
etc. The value that you record must reflect the precision of the measurement. Usually, if a measuring
device is calibrated to a given decimal place, the measurement can be estimated to the next decimal
place. The most common error in taking a measurement is not recording the value to the proper
decimal place. This introductory exercise on measuring is intended to provide you with some
practice taking and recording common measurements of mass, volume, temperature, and length to the
proper decimal place.

Metric System

Scientists generally use the units of the metric system. This system is convenient because the
divisions are based on powers of ten. For a given quantity there is an established base unit. For mass
the base unit is grams, for volume the base unit is liters, and for length the base unit is meters. The
other subunits are related to the base unit by a factor of 10, as indicated by a prefix that is placed in
front of the base unit. These prefixes make the unit bigger or smaller depending on the value of the
prefix.

The most common metric prefixes are given below:

Prefix Symbol Value

mega M 1 x 106
kilo k 1 x 103
deci d 1 x 10-1
centi c 1 x 10-2
mili m 1 x 10-3
micro µ 1 x 10-6
nano n 1 x 10-9

In the metric system, it is easy to see how the units are related to one another. The prefix “kilo” stands
for 1000, so if the prefix kilo is placed in front of the base unit meter, it stands for 1000 m, thus 1 km
= 1000m. The relationship between all the other units can be worked out the same way.

For example:

1 cm = .01m
1 mm = 0.001m
1µm = 1x 10-6 m

1
In this lab, measurements of mass, volume, temperature, and length will be carried out. Then you
will put your measuring skills to the test to determine the density of water and the density of an
irregular shaped solid object. Close attention must be paid so that the measurements are recorded to
the correct decimal place.

Making Measurements of Mass, Volume, Length, and Temperature

Mass
Most all balances are top-loading balances. Top-loading balances are those that weigh an object
simply by placing the object on top of a pan. The main differences between different balances are
their capacity and their precision. The precision of a balance refers to the last decimal place that can
be read. The balances in your lab can read out to the second (hundredth gram position). Granular or
powdery solids are weighed onto a piece of weighing paper or in a weighing dish or a beaker.
Liquids are weighed in beakers or flasks. Very seldom are objects weighed by placing them directly
on the pan.

Volume
Precise volume measurements are made with graduated cylinders, burets, or pipets. Beakers have
lines painted on them to indicate the APPROXIMATE volume but beakers are NEVER used to make
a precise volume measurement.

a) Graduated Cylinders
Common sizes of graduated cylinders are 10-mL, 25-mL, 50-mL, and 100-mL. The 10-mL
graduated cylinder is calibrated to the tenths place and therefore volumes can be estimated to the
second decimal place. The 25-mL, 50-mL, and 100-mL graduated cylinders can be used to
measure volumes to the tenths place. The volume is determined by the position of the bottom of
the meniscus (the curvature of the liquid). The volume of the liquid in the cylinder is recorded
and the graduated cylinder is read from the bottom up. See the sketch below.

30.0 mL

26.3 mL

20.0 mL

b) Burets
Burets are glass tubes that are calibrated at least to the tenth milliliter position and have a
stopcock at the bottom that allows you to deliver a precise volume of liquid up to the capacity of
the buret. Since the burets are calibrated to the tenths place, the measured volume can be
estimated to the hundredths place. Two common sizes of burets are 25-mL and 50-mL. It is
worth noting here that a 10-mL graduated cylinder, which is also graduated to the tenth milliliter
position, isn’t as accurate as a buret that is graduated to the same decimal place. The volume of
liquid delivered is recorded and the buret is read from top down.
See the sketch below.

2
 13.00 mL

13.37 mL

14.00 mL

Dimensions
The length, width, and height of a sample are measured with a ruler or a caliper that is calibrated on
the metric scale. In science labs, dimensions are seldom measured on the English scale. Most rulers
and calipers are calibrated to the tenth centimeter position (also called the millimeter position). Thus,
the dimension can be measured to the second decimal place (hundredth centimeter or tenth
millimeter).

Temperature
The temperature of a solid, liquid, or gas (such as air) is measured using a thermometer or
temperature probe. Most thermometers are calibrated to the units place on the centigrade scale and
therefore the temperature can be estimated to the tenths place. In this exercise place the thermometer
into the liquid in one of the graduated cylinders, let it stand for about a minute, and record the
temperature to the proper decimal place. You should always record the value and the label
(centigrade or Fahrenheit) also, for example, 26.5 oC.

°F= 1.8 x °C +32 °C= (°F-32)/1.8

Density
Density is a physical property of a substance that can be used as a means of identification. The
density can be calculated for solids, liquids, and gases. Density is defined as the mass of the object
per unit volume:

Density = mass/volume

Because density is a ratio of mass per volume, a substance will have the same density regardless of
the size or mass of the substance. However, the density of a substance can vary with temperature.
This is especially true for gases.

Determining the density of a liquid can be accomplished by direct measurements. The liquid can be
massed using a balance and the volume can be read using glassware such as a graduated cylinder. The
density is then calculated by dividing the mass by the volume.

For solid objects that are regular shaped, the volume can be calculated by measuring the dimensions
of the object (i.e l x w x h). For irregular shaped solid objects, the volume can be measured using
volume displacement. The solid object is dropped into a known volume of water and the amount by
which the water level rises is the volume of the solid object. The mass of the solid object can be
measured using a balance. The density is then calculated by dividing the mass by the volume.

3
In this experiment, the density of water, a penny, and a piece of brass (mixture of copper and zinc)
will be determined. The calculated density values can be compared to the literature value for the
density of water and to a list of density values of various metals from which the penny might be
composed. An educated guess can then be made about the metal that is used to produce a penny.

Table 1. Known Density Values

Water 1.0 g/mL
Copper 8.92 g/cm3
Aluminum 2.70g/cm3
Iron 7.86 g/cm3
Zinc 7.13 g/cm3
Gold 19.3 g/cm3
Brass see below Fig. 1 as density can vary due to the composition of Zn and Cu

Figure 1: Density vs. Cu Composition in Brass

4
Significant Figures (Sig Figs)
Significant figures refer to the digits in a number that are meaningful and are known with some
degree of certainty. For a measured value, all digits we are certain about and the first estimated digit
are significant. Using the following rules we can tell the number of significant figures (sig figs)
present in a given number.
1. All nonzero digits are significant.
2. Zeros between nonzero digits are significant
3. Zeros at the beginning of a number are never significant (they are simply place holders)
4. Zeros at the end of a number that contains a decimal point are always significant

Examples:
233.1 = 4 sig figs
0.0055 = 2 sig figs
3.000 = 4 sig figs
2.045 = 4 sig figs
5,000. = 4 sig figs
5,000 = 1 sig fig
4.5 x 103 = 2 sig figs
4.50 x 103 = 3 sig figs

When performing calculations, the answer must be reported using the correct number of sig figs. Not
all the numbers that appear on your calculator screen are significant. The calculated number must
have the same degree of certainty as the number with the least degree of certainty. You must round
your final answer to obtain the correct number of significant figures. If the number to the right of the
last allowed digit is 5 or greater then you will increase the number by one digit (i.e round up). There
are different rules for ÷/ x and +/-.

Rule for Multiplication and Division:

• The answer should have the same number of sig figs as there are in the number with the
fewest sig figs
Examples:
2.34 cm (3 sig figs)
x 1.2 cm x( 2 sig figs)
2
2.808 = 2.8cm (answer with 2 figs)

5.634g = 0.563g/mL (4 sig figs) = (answer with 3 sig figs)

10.0 mL (3 sig figs)

Rule for Addition and Subtraction

• The answer is given to the same number of decimal places as the term with the fewest
decimal places

2.35cm (2 decimal places)

- 1.2 cm - (1 decimal place)
1.15 cm = 1.2 cm (answer with 1 decimal place)

Note: Exact numbers, constants, and counted values are not considered when figuring the number of
significant figures in a calculation. For example, if you are taking the average of a set of numbers, the
number of sets does not limit the number of significant figures in your answer. Conversion factors (i.e
1000 m = 1 km) would not limit the number of significant figures either.

5
Procedure
Part A: Measurements.
The objective of this exercise is for you to record the correct measurements to the proper
decimal place.

Throughout this exercise known samples will be marked with a number followed by the letter K and
unknowns will be marked with a number followed by the letter U. The correct values for the known
samples (K) are listed on the answer card at your bench. Make sure that you can measure your
sample correctly by measuring the known sample first and checking your value against the known
value on the card. When you are satisfied that you can take the measurement properly, proceed to
measure the unknown sample.

1. Measure the mass, diameter, and length of the known and unknown metal cylinders at your
bench. Check the correct values of the known before you continue with the unknown. Record
your values for the unknowns on your report sheet.
2. Record the volume of water that is in the graduated cylinders and the buret marked known
and unknown. Check the correct value of the known before you continue with the unknown.
Record the value for the unknowns on your report sheet.

Part B: Density Determination

Density of water:
1. Record the mass of a dry 50-mL graduated cylinder.
2. Add approximately 25 mL of water to a 50 mL graduated cylinder and record the exact
volume of water added using the correct number of significant figures.
3. Record the mass of the graduated cylinder and water.
4. Calculate the mass of the water used and determine the density of water by dividing the mass
by the volume. Be sure to remember sig fig rules for multiplication/division!

Density of a penny:
1. Record the mass of ten pre-1982 pennies.
2. Add approximately 25 mL of water to a 50 mL graduated cylinder and record the exact
volume of water added. This is your initial water volume.
3. Carefully drop the stack of pre-1982 pennies into the graduated cylinder. Tilt the graduated
cylinder and carefully drop the pennies in to avoid splashing the water.
4. Record the final volume of water in the graduated cylinder.
5. Calculate the volume of the stack of pennies (Final volume of water – Initial volume of
water)
6. Determine the density of a pre-1982 penny. Divide your mass by your volume and Remember
sig fig rules!
7. Repeat the same procedure with a stack of ten post-1982 pennies.

Density of a Brass object:

1. Record the mass of brass.
2. Measure the dimensions of the brass piece- Length and width. Height is on the board.
3. Calculate the volume (remember your units and sig figs!).
4. Determine the density of brass. Remember sig figs

6
 Emily Boehm
Name__________________________________________

Report Sheet

Unknown station number 6

____

Mass and Dimensions

Measure the mass, diameter, and length of the known and unknown metal cylinders at your bench.
Check the correct values of the known before you continue with the unknown.

Mass (g) 21.19g

_______

Diameter (cm) 1.20 cm

_______

Length (cm) 8.0cm

_______

Volume – Graduated Cylinder

Record the volume of water that is in the graduated cylinders marked known and unknown. Check
the correct value of the known before you continue with the unknown.

10 mL graduated cylinder Volume (mL) 4.10

________

50 mL graduated cylinder Volume (mL) 33.1

________

Volume - Buret
Record the volume of water that has been delivered from the burets marked known and unknown.
Check the correct value of the known before you continue with the unknown.

Volume (mL) 17.81

________

Density Determination

A. Density of Water

Mass of graduated cylinder 68.44g

_____________________
Mass of graduated cylinder + water 95.32g
_____________________
Mass of water 26.88g
_____________________
Volume of water (exact) _____________________
26.89 ml
Density of water .9996 g/mL
_____________________

Show Density Calculation:

26.889
M
5.9996 i
=
D -
=

I
7
B. Density of a Penny

Pre-1982 Post 1982

Mass of ten pennies 30.84g

_______________ 25.57g
_______________
Initial Water volume (exact) 26.89mL
_______________ 24.18mL
_______________
Final Water volume (exact) 30.04 mL
_______________ 27.82mL
_______________
Volume of Pennies 3.15 mL
_______________ 3.64mL
_______________
Density of Penny 9.79g/mL
_______________ 7.02g/mL
_______________

3557g
D m
=
=

Show Density Calculation:

3.24mL
D
b 30g 9.79 e
=

=
g
=

C. Density of Brass =7,02gImL

Mass 2.92g
_______________
Length 4.11cm
_______________
Width 3.29cm
_______________
Height 0.062 cm
_______________
Volume (l x w x h) .84 cm^3
_______________
Density 3.5 g/cm^3
_______________

Show Density Calculation:

D E=
2 =

=3.5 glam

8
 Name__________________________________________

Post-Lab Questions

1. A student determined the density of a solid object by volume displacement. The student did
not completely dry the solid object before the mass was recorded. Will the fact that the object
was wet when the object was weighed affect the student’s determination of the density? If so,
will the density value be too high or too low? Explain your answer.
The object was wet when weighed so it will affect the students
determination of the density. The density will be too high. When
the mass is greater and divided by the same volume the product
will be greater
2. Consider the density values that you determined for the pre-1982 and post 1982 pennies. Do
your values suggest that the pennies have the same composition? What metal or metals do
your data suggest that the pre-1982 penny is composed of? The post-1982? Explain your
answer with the results you collected in this experiment. Give evidence to support your
answer and explanations. (It is possible that there is more than one correct answer. As long as
you support your answer and your explanation is consistent with the data you have collected,
you will receive full credit for your response)

When looking at the density value that were determine I can suggest
The pennies have different composition. I would guess the Pennie’s are
made up of brass/copper however I would say the pre-1982 Pennie’s
consist of a heavier metal composition so possibly they consist a greater
percentage of copper and the post-1982 Pennies had a composition %
much less.

3. Consider the density value that you determined in the experiment for the piece of
brass(mixture of copper and zinc). Using the chart below, what is the % composition of
Copper and Zinc in your piece of brass? Show how you obtained your answer on the graph.

0%
% Cu___________________ and N/A
% Zn_______________________

The Cu in our brass is 0% because our density is under 7 and there is no

way to determine the percentage of zinc unless we are sure brass only
consists of copper and zinc 9