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Discovery Density Lab - Introduction 2

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11 views

Discovery Density Lab - Introduction 2

Uploaded by

injenuity
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Discovering Density Lab

Group 6

Cole Mendenhall, Kyle Pitaknarongphorn, Genevieve Butscher, & Khoi Doan


Introduction

The goal of this lab was to identify the metal we were measuring. Density is the physical

property of matter and defined as the amount of mass per unit of volume (Marla Utley,

Introduction to Chemistry; Matter). To calculate density we use the following equation: D=m/v

(Adam Augustyn, Density). The unit for density is centimeters cubed. Volume can be measured

by: length x width x height, however in this lab we worked with silver metal shots and found the

volume using water displacement in a graduated cylinder. We are measuring a silver metal shot

in samples using a plastic cup placed on a scale. Mass and volume have a directly proportional

relationship, when the volume increases the mass increases. If the density is not too high or low,

and the sample is either silver or gold in color then the metal is most likely brass.

Analyzing our data table, we came to a conclusion that the metal we were experimenting

with was nickel. We determine this by calculating the percent error in the measurement of our

slope from our graph and the physical property it presents. The formula for percent error is

|measured value - accepted value| / accepted value x 100% Percent error is helpful to configure

how accurate or inaccurate the data found in the experiment is to approved measurements

(LibreTexts Chemistry, Percent Error).We match our calculation with the data table to determine

the metal we used. By using water displacement to define the volume of the metals you are able

to figure out what metal you are using and the density of the metals.

If the density is not too high or low, and the sample is either silver or gold in color then

the metal is most likely brass. This hypothesis was supported as the density that we calculated

was a middle number compared with the other metals and the sample was silver in color. The

masses of the metals did not look shockingly high or low, so we were able to predict that the

density would be a number near the middle of the range of densities. We tried to be very exact in
our calculations for the data tables and graphs, however our one discrepancy is that in the first

graph, our first point was placed in a position that we calculated in the beginning of the process.

We fixed that calculation on our table as well as our second graph to the correct one.

Materials

● Metal shot, 50-60 g

● Beaker, 100-mL

● Paper Towels

● Water

● Balance, centigram (0.01 g precision)

● Graduated cylinder, 25-mL

● Pen for labeling

● Weighing dishes or small containers, 5


Procedures

1. Obtain 50-60 g of silver- or gold-colored metal shot in a 100-mL beaker. In the Data Table,

circle whether the metal is "silver" or "gold."

2. Label a set of weighing dishes or small containers 1-5.

3. Tare ("zero") weighing dish #1 on the electronic balance and add about one-fifth of the metal

shot to the dish. Measure the mass of sample #1 (it should be between 8 and 15 g). Record the

mass of sample #1 in the Data Table.

4. Repeat step 3 to divide the metal shot among the other four weighing dishes. Vary the sample

sizes so they are not all the same mass. Thus, if the first sample is 8 g, make the next sample

about 10 g, etc. Do not mix up the samples!

5. Obtain a clean, 25-mL graduated cylinder and add approximately 10 mL of water to the

cylinder.
6. Measure the initial volume of water in the cylinder to the nearest 0.1 mL and record the value

for sample #1 in the Data Table. Note: Use the units cm for the volume measurements. Recall, 1

mL = 1 cm3.

7. Carefully add sample #1 to the water in the graduated cylinder. The best way to do this is to tip

the cylinder at a slight angle and gently slide the metal pieces into the water so that the water

does not splash or splatter (and the glass cylinder does not break). Record the final volume

(volume of water plus the sample) in the Data Table.

8. Subtract the initial volume from the final volume to calculate the volume of sample #1. Record

this value in the Data Table.

9. Repeat steps 6-8 for each of the remaining samples. Do NOT remove prior samples from the

cylinder between measurements. Before adding a new sample to the cylinder, measure the new

"initial" volume in the graduated cylinder. This may not always be precisely the same as the

previous final volume reading. Record initial and final volume measurements and the volume of

each subsequent sample in the Data Table.


Bibliography

(N.d.). Retrieved from https://flexbooks.ck12.org/cbook/ck-12-chemistry-flexbook-2.0/

Augustyn , A. (n.d.). Density. Retrieved from https://www.britannica.com/science/density

Libretexts. (2022). 3.13: Percent error. Retrieved from

https://chem.libretexts.org/Bookshelves/Introductory_Chemistry/Introductory_Chemistry_(CK-1

2)/03%3A_Measurements/3.13%3A_Percent_Error

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