Name________________________________
Period_________
LAB STATION_________
This is important because there are different
metals at each station.
Density Lab
Goal
You and your lab partner will receive three samples of unknown metals. It is your job to design an
experiment that will enable you to determine the identity of the unknown metals with given materials.
A list of probable metals and their known density is provided in the table below:
Metal
Aluminum
Zinc
Copper
Brass
Beryllium
Lead
Density (g/cm3)
2.70
7.14
9.2
8.61
1.85
11.34
Safety
Make sure NO metals go down the drain! Dry them off if you need to and place them back.
Procedure
Make sure the metal sample is completely dry when finding the mass! Don’t forget to zero the scale!
1. Write the procedure you used to measure the variables needed to calculate the density of the
three metal samples. If you used the same procedure for two or more of the metal samples, just
indicate which procedures are the same instead of writing them out twice!
2. Once you have written out your procedure, find the mass and volume needed and write it on
the indicated line. Don’t forget units!!
Metal A
Metal B
Metal C
Mass for Metal A__________
Volume of Metal A_________
Mass for Metal B____________
Volume for Metal B__________
Mass for Metal C___________
Volume for Metal C_________
Calculations
Show ALL calculations for finding the density of each unknown metal in the space provided below.
Metal A
Metal B
Metal C
Conclusions:
1. After calculating the densities of each metal, identify the metals using the known densities
provided to you. (Hint: 1 mL = 1 cm3)
a. Identify of metal A
b. Identify of metal B
c. Identify of metal C
2. Would the density of a metal change if you had more or less of it? Why or why not?
3. Taking it further: Write out a quick procedure if you were finding the density of a liquid.
4. If any of the densities you found in the lab were different than the known densities, explain any
and all possible experimental errors.