Name: ________________________
Hour: ____ Date: ___________
Chemistry: Density
In this activity, you will be dealing with nine cubes of different materials and five cylinders of various sizes and
materials. Make all your measurements first, and save your calculations for later. In this way, everyone will
get a chance to make the necessary measurements. Show all of your work, and be sure to include units!
(Points will be deducted for not showing work or including units)
Cubes
1. Before doing any measurements, place the cubes in order by estimating the mass. The cubes should be
labeled with a letter. If not, see the instructor. Using the letters from the cubes, write your order below:
Smallest Mass ____ <____ < ____ < ____ < ____ < ____ < ____ < ____ < ____
Largest Mass
2. Using the triple beam balance, determine the mass of each cube (you should be able to measure to the
nearest 0.1 g, or perhaps the nearest 0.05 g).
Data Table 1:
Description
Cube
Mass (g)
Volume
(cm3)
Density
(g/mL)
A
B
C
D
E
F
G
H
I
3. Using a ruler, determine the volume of cubes A and B. Be sure to show your work and include units!
Cube A: side (cm) _______
volume ______
Cube B: side (cm) _______
volume ______
4. What is the same for all of the cubes? (other than they are all cubes and are labeled with a letter!)
5. Place the cubes in order from least dense to most dense. Write your order below:
Least Dense ____
<
____
<
____ < ____ < ____ < ____ < ____ < ____ < ____ Most Dense
6. How were you able to determine this order?
v = r2h
Cylinders
1. Before doing any measurements, place the cylinders in by estimating the mass.
The cylinders are not labeled, so you will have to describe each of the five cylinders.
Smallest mass ___________< ___________ < ___________ < ___________ < __________ Largest mass
2. Using the method of your choosing (two possible methods), determine the volume of each cylinder.
Report your volume in cm3 (remember that 1 cm 3 = 1 mL). If you decide to use the displacement
method, please be sure to dry off the cylinders after determining the volume.
Data Table 2:
Sample
Cylinder
Color
Length
(cm)
Initial Volume
of Water (mL)
Volume of Water &
Sample Cylinder (mL)
Float
or Sink?
Volume of Sample
Cylinder (cm3)
Density
(g/cm3)
A
B
C
D
E
3. Place the cylinders in order from least dense to most dense.
Least Dense ___________< ___________ < ___________ < ___________ < ____________ Most Dense
4. How were you able to determine this order?
Post-Lab Questions:
 Was the same amount of water displaced for each sample cylinder? Why?

If all the sample cylinders were of equal volume, would the same amount of water be displaced for each
sample?

What was the relationship between the volume and density of sample cylinders? (Remember, they all
have the same mass.)

Did any of the sample cylinders float in water? If so, why?
KEY
Chemistry: Density
In this activity, you will be dealing with nine cubes of different materials and five cylinders of various sizes and
materials. Make all your measurements first, and save your calculations for later. In this way, everyone will
get a chance to make the necessary measurements. Show all of your work, and be sure to include units!
(Points will be deducted for not showing work or including units)
Cubes
1. Before doing any measurements, place the cubes in order by estimating the mass. The cubes should be
labeled with a letter. If not, see the instructor. Using the letters from the cubes, write your order below:
Student answers may vary as these are estimates.
Smallest Mass I
<
H
<
A
<
B
<
G
<
C
<
D
<
F
<
E Largest Mass
2. Using the triple beam balance, determine the mass of each cube (you should be able to measure to the
nearest 0.1 g, or perhaps the nearest 0.05 g).
Data Table 1:
Description
Cube
Mass (g)
Volume
(cm3)
Density
(g/cm3)
Opaque white
A
14.04 g
16.4 cm3
0.856 g/cm3
Clear plastic
B
17.94 g
16.4 cm3
1.09 g/cm3
Gray solid metal
C
42.76 g
16.4 cm3
2.61 g/cm3
Rusty gray metal
D
128.04 g
16.4 cm3
7.81 g/cm3
Copper metal
E
143.44 g
16.4 cm3
8.75 g/cm3
Brass metal
F
139.65 g
16.4 cm3
8.52 g/cm3
Dark gray plastic
G
21.47 g
16.4 cm3
1.31 g/cm3
Oak wood
H
11.41 g
16.4 cm3
0.696 g/cm3
Pine wood
I
6.18 g
16.4 cm3
0.377 g/cm3
3. Using a ruler, determine the volume of cubes A and B. Be sure to show your work and include units!
Cube A: side (cm)
2.54 cm
volume
16.4 cm3
Cube B: side (cm)
2.54 cm
volume
16.4 cm3
4. What is the same for all of the cubes? (other than they are all cubes and are labeled with a letter)
volume
5. Place the cubes in order from least dense to most dense. Write your order below:
Least Dense
I
<
H
<
A
<
B
<
G
<
C
<
D
<
F
<
E
Most Dense
6. How were you able to determine this order?
By looking at mass. Most massive was most dense because all samples had equal volumes.
v = r2h
Cylinders
1. Before doing any measurements, place the cylinders in order by estimating the mass.
The cylinders are not labeled, so you will have to describe each of the five cylinders.
Smallest mass ___________< ___________ < ___________ < ___________ < __________ Largest mass
ALL SAMPLES HAVE IDENTICAL MASS
2. Using the method of your choosing (two possible methods), determine the volume of each cylinder.
Report your volume in cm3 (remember that 1 cm 3 = 1 mL). If you decide to use the displacement
method, please be sure to dry off the cylinders after determining the volume.
Data Table 2:
Sample
Cylinder
Color
Length
(cm)
Initial Volume
of Water (mL)
Volume of Water &
Sample Cylinder (mL)
Float
or Sink?
Volume of Sample
Cylinder (cm3)
Density
(g/cm3)
A
Off-white
11.2
50.1
62.9
Sink
12.8
1.17
B
white
12.5
55.1
71.1
Float
16.0
0.938
8.1
50.2
61.0
Sink
10.8
1.39
4.4
52.1
57.7
Sink
5.6
2.68
1.4
49.8
51.8
Sink
2.0
7.50
C
D
E
Dark
gray
Shiny
gray
brass
3. Place the cylinders in order from least dense to most dense.
Least Dense
B <
A
<
C
<
D
<
E
Most Dense
4. How were you able to determine this order?
Calculating density from mass and volume data
Post-Lab Questions:
 Was the same amount of water displaced for each sample cylinder? Why?
No, cylinders had different volumes.

If all the sample cylinders were of equal volume, would the same amount of water be displaced for each
sample?
Yes, if they all had cylinders had the same volume they would displace the same volume
of water. They would not have had the same mass.

What was the relationship between the volume and density of sample cylinders? (Remember, they all
have the same mass.)
Smaller volume was most dense. Volume and density were INVERSELY related.

Did any of the sample cylinders float in water? If so, why?
Yes, cylinder B floated because it was less dense than water.