Saltwater Density Lab Sheet
Name __________________________ Date ____________ Period _______
Question: _______________________________________________________________________
Hypothesis: If salt is added to water, then the density of the water will____________________.
(increase or decrease)
Table 1: Observation table – Write your observations of the experiment after each step listed in the left
column.
Procedure Step Number
Observations
After step 2
After step 3
After step 4
After step 5
Question 1: Did the egg float in the fresh water?
Yes
No
Question 2: Did the egg float in the salt water?
Yes
No
Question 3: Which had a higher density?
Fresh water
Saltwater
Question 4: What changed in the water to make the egg float?
______________________________________________________________________
Question 5: Rank the egg, fresh water, and saltwater based on their density.
Most Dense
______________, ______________, ______________
Least Dense
Question 6: Check out the video at www.tinyurl.com/FloatOnAir2015 and then write a possible explanation for
what must be happening. Be sure to use the terms density and gas in your explanation.
_________________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________________
Read and complete all of the directions below.
Write the question and hypothesis on your lab sheet.
Question: How does salinity change the density of water?
Hypothesis: If salt is added to water, then the density of the water will _________
(complete this statement on your lab sheet)
Procedures:
1. Fill a 400 mL beaker HALF full with tap water.
2. Gently place an egg into the water. If the egg is not COMPLETELY submerged, add
enough water to submerge the egg about 1 cm below the surface of water.
Record the result in table 1.
3. Next, use a plastic spoon to add a scoop of salt to the water. Stir gently to dissolve
the salt. Keep adding salt and stirring until some salt does NOT dissolve and is left
in the bottom of the glass. Record changes in the egg’s position and any
other relevant observations in table 1.
4. Next, using the spoon as shown in the picture to
the right, use the squirt bottle to add enough tap
water to fill the beaker nearly full. Record your
observations.
5. Lastly, add 2 or 3 drops of food coloring to the
water and stir JUST THE TOP OF THE WATER
GENTLY to mix in the dye. Record your
observations.
6. Clean Up:
 Pour salt water into the sink
 Rinse and dry the beakers.
 Put all materials back where your teacher instructs.
 Dry the egg off and put it back in the container… breakfast
tomorrow….mmmmmm….delicious breakfast!!!