DETERMINATION OF DENSITY OF A LIQUID

ALLAN S. TAMPUS JR.

Department of Chemical Engineering

College of Engineering and Architecture

Cebu Institute of Technology -University

N. Bacalso Ave. Cebu City, 6000 Philippines

In this experiment, densities of liquids were determined using three different apparatuses:
pycnometer, Westphal’s balance, and hydrometer. Four sugar solutions with different
concentrations were prepared for this experiment. 25 g, 50 g, 75 g, and 100 g of sugar were
dissolved in 200 ml of distilled water respectively in a flask. Using pycnometer, the density
of the solutions were obtained and with that, specific gravity was computed. Using
Westphal’s balance and hydrometer, the specific gravity of the solutions were obtained and
from that, density of each were computed. Among the three apparatuses, the pycnometer
gives a better accuracy in the measurement of the density of liquids.
1.1 Introduction

The density of liquids are obtained by using three different density measuring
apparatus, namely, pycnometer, Westphal balance, and hydrometer.

The pycnometer is a device used to determine the density of a liquid. A pycnometer is

usually made of glass, with a close-fitting ground glass stopper with a capillary tube through
it, so that air bubbles may escape from the apparatus. The pycnometer is a standard vessel
often provided with a thermometer for measuring and comparing the densities of liquids or
solids

Figure 1.1.1 Pycnometer

The Westphal’s balance is an apparatus that measures the specific gravity of a liquid.
The modifications made by the good doctor were by replacing the tray method with an
adjustable arm counterweight.

Figure 1.1.2 Westphal’s Balance

 To operate the Westphal’s balance, the arm is first balanced with the plummet totally
immersed in water at 15.5 degrees C. The plummet has a built-in thermometer and has a
known volume (equal to 5 gm of water at 15.5 degrees C) and mass (15 gm). A 5 gm mass is
placed on the hook holding the plummet, and the screw on the foot is adjusted until the index
pointer on the end of the beam lines up with the point on the frame. The plummet is then
completely immersed in the unknown liquid, and the system is rebalanced, using a series of
riders on the nine equally paced notches on the beam, thus giving the value of the added mass
for each decimal place. This gives the buoyant force of the liquid relative to water, and hence
the specific gravity, which may be obtained to four decimal places.

Hydrometer is an instrument used to measure the density of a liquid. The device is

usually consist of a weighted, sealed, long neck glass bulb which was immersed in the liquid
being measured. Its long depth of floatation also gave an indication of liquid density, and the
neck can be calibrated to read density, specific gravity, or some other related characteristics.

Figure 1.1.3 Hydrometer

The apparatuses used were under the influence of Archimedes’ principle of buoyancy.
Archimedes' principle indicates that the upward buoyant force that is exerted on a body
immersed in a fluid, whether fully or partially submerged, is equal to the weight of the fluid
that the body displaces.
1.2 Materials and Methods

Four sucrose solutions were prepared by dissolving 25 g, 50 g, 75 g, and 100 g of

sucrose in 200 ml of distilled water in a flask. The solutions were then immersed in a water
bath to stabilize its temperature at 25°C.

Three apparatuses pycnometer, Westphal’s balance, and hydrometer were used to

determine the density of the four solutions.

For the Pycnometer, it was cleaned and dried first. After drying, the weight of the
empty apparatus was taken using the digital balance. The empty pycnometer was then filled
with distilled water to the brim and weighed. After taking its weight, the weight of the empty
pycnometer was subtracted from the weight of pycnometer with water to get the weight of the
liquid. The procedure was repeated to the four sugar solutions. The density was computed by
dividing the mass of the sugar solution over the mass of water (which was obtained earlier)
and multiplying the quotient with the density of water at the recorded temperature.

For the Westphal Balance, the balance was assembled first. Then, the glass cylinder
was filled about 2/3 full with the pre-cooled distilled water at 25°C. A 5 g mass was placed
on the hook holding the plummet, and the leveling screw in the foot of the balance was
adjusted until equilibrium was obtained. The specific gravity may be computed by obtaining
the sum of all the weight of the riders with respect to its notch. Then, multiply the sum of the
specific gravity to the density of water at 25°C to obtain the density of the solution.

For the Hydrometer, distilled water about 800 ml was placed in a 1L graduated
cylinder at the standard temperature of 25°C. The liquid was stabilized its temperature and air
bubbles on the walls of the cylinder were removed. The hydrometer was placed inside the
cylinder andwas allowed to sink into the water to a level of two smallest scale divisions
below where it will floated, and then it was released. After a few minutes of stabilization, the
reading of the hydrometer was noted. The procedures were repeated using the sucrose
solutions. The specific gravity was then computed using the Baumé scale that was used when
the concentration of solutions are heavier than water.
1.3 Results

1.3.1 Pycnometer

Liquid Sample Readings Specific Gravity Density Temperature

[unit] [g/ml] [°C]

Water 51.42 1.0000 0.99708 25

Solution 1 53.67 1.0438 1.0407 25

Solution 2 55.64 1.0821 1.0789 25

Solution 3 57.42 1.1167 1.1134 25

Solution 4 58.85 1.1445 1.1411 25

Mass of empty pycnometer = 35.90g

1.3.2 Westphal Balance

Specific
Liquid Sample Readings Density Temperature
Gravity

[g/ml] [°C]

Water 5.00 1.0000 0.99708 25

Solution 1 5.20 1.04 1.03696 25

Solution 2 5.40 1.08 1.07685 25

Solution 3 5.50 1.10 1.09679 25

Solution 4 5.90 1.14 1.13667 25

1.3.3 Hydrometer

Liquid Sample Readings Specific Gravity Density Temperature

[g/ml] [°C]

Water 1.00 1.00 0.99708 25

Solution 1 1.05 1.05 1.04693 25

Solution 2 1.09 1.09 1.08682 25

Solution 3 1.14 1.14 1.13667 25

Solution 4 1.18 1.18 1.17655 25

 1.3.4 Computations:

PYCNOMETER

0.99708
ρwater = 0.99708 g/ml S.G= 0.99708= 1.000

53.67 1.04071
ρ25= (0.99708)= 1.04071 g/ml S.G= = 1.0438
51.42 0.99708

55.64 1.07891
ρ50= (0.99708)= 1.07891 g/ml S.G= 0.99708= 1.0821
51.42

57.42 1.11343
ρ75=51.42 (0.99708)= 1.11343 g/ml S.G= 0.99708= 1.1167

58.85 1.14115
ρ100= (0.99708)= 1.14115 g/ml S.G= 0.99708= 1.1445
51.42

WESTPHAL BALANCE

0.99708
ρwater = 0.99708 g/ml S.G= 0.99708= 1.000

5.20 1.03696
ρ25= (0.99708)= 1.03696 g/ml S.G= = 1.04
5.00 0.99708

5.40 1.07685
ρ50= (0.99708)= 1.07685 g/ml S.G= = 1.08
5.00 0.99708

5.50 1.09679
ρ75=5.00 (0.99708)= 1.09679 g/ml S.G= = 1.10
0.99708

5.70 1.13667
ρ100=5.00 (0.99708)= 1.13667 g/ml S.G= 0.99708= 1.14
 HYDROMETER

25 g of sugar ρ= (0.99708) (1.05) = 1.04693 g/ml

50 g of sugar ρ= (0.99708) (1.09) = 1.08682 g/ml

75 g of sugar ρ= (0.99708) (1.14) = 1.13667 g/ml

100 g of sugar ρ= (0.99708) (1.18) = 1.17655 g/ml

WEIGHT PERCENT

25 g sugar
solution 1 = 225 ml water x 100 = 11.11%

50 g sugar
solution 2 = 250 ml water x 100 = 20%

75 g sugar
solution 3 = 275 ml water x 100 = 27.27%

100 g sugar
solution 4 = 300 ml water x 100 = 33.33%
1.4 Discussion

The results obtained were all prior to error. As shown in the computations, the density
of the solutions as it is obtained in the different apparatuses are not the same, so as the
obtained results for the specific gravity. It appears that the concentration of the sugar solution
is directly proportional to density, as concentration increases the density also increases.

One of the factor that affect the results of the pycnometer was the temperature, for it
was difficult to stabilize it at exactly 25 °C. Sometimes it increases or decreases when
transferred or weighed.

Temperature also caused an error but it doesn’t matter that much for that Westphal’s
balance. However, the errors were very likely due to the assigning of riders on the notch or
wrong assumptions on the alignment of the pointers.

Temperature also affects the result on the hydrometer. Air bubbles on the cylinder
walls were strictly avoided to cause less error. Placing the hydrometer inside the cylinder
caused so much time, for it took a while to stabilize and attained the desirable result. If the
reading exceeds the scale hydrometer, it either float causing it to exceed the range which is
why proper scale must be used for certain density.

The solutions may also be a factor of the error because their might be some error that
occurred during preparation. The mass of the sugar or the volume of the water were not that
precise enough. The achieved results did not coincide with each other.
1.5 Conclusions

Archimedes' principle indicates that the upward buoyant force that is exerted on a
body immersed in a fluid, whether fully or partially submerged, is equal to the weight of the
fluid that the body displaces.

In determining the density and specific gravity of liquids, an individual may able to
use a pycnometer, a Westphal Balance, or a hydrometer. The Westphal Balance is highly
prone to error because the alignment of the pointers depends on human sight which might not
be the same for everyone. Hydrometer is also prone to human error for proper scale is a must.
The temperature is also a likely factor, since the certain temperature must use but due to the
room temperature the results can be affected. But for accurate data and results, the
Pycnometer is highly advisable to be used..
1.6 Reference

http://everything2.com/title/Westphal+Balance accessed on October 10, 2016

https://www.britannica.com/technology/hydrometer accessed on October 10, 2016

http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/pycnometer accessed on October 10, 2016