2. Mass and Volume
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Partner:
Date:
Period:
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Prelab Questions
1. What is the purpose of this lab?
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2. How do you calculate the slope of a line?
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3. What part of the meniscus do you use to read the volume of a liquid in a graduated cylinder?
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4. How are you going to read the volume on the graduated cylinder?
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5. What does it mean to find the volume of a solid by “water displacement”?
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6. How do you calculate density?
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7. An object with a mass of 56.4 grams is placed in a graduated cylinder containing 25.0 mL of water.
The water rises to 38.2 mL. What is the density of the object?
8. What is the volume of the graduated cylinder below?
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Mass & Volume
PURPOSE:
 To develop your skills in measuring mass and volume.
 To establish a mass–volume relationship for different materials through graphing.
 To determine the identity of unknown materials.
APPARATUS:
Balance, graduated cylinder of various sizes (10, 50, 250 ml)
MATERIALS:
Various metals and liquids.
PROCEDURE:
CP1~1213
Part I: Irregular Solids
a. Measure about 5 grams of the material on the balance to the nearest 0.01g. You must have at least
TWO numbers to the right of the decimal point. Record the value in the data table including the proper
UNIT.
b. Put some water into a graduated cylinder. Use the smallest size cylinder that will fit all of the measured
solid. Measure the starting volume by reading the markings at the BOTTOM of the meniscus, the lensshaped surface of the water. Your eye must be at the same height as the bottom of the meniscus if the
reading is to be correct. If your eye is at the correct height, you will see only one curved surface. If in
doubt, ask your instructor. Record the exact starting volume of water including the proper UNIT.
c. Slide the material into the graduated cylinder while it is tilted at an angle. This prevents the solid from
splashing the water out of the cylinder and also prevents breakage of the glass graduated cylinder.
Following the procedure in step (b), measure and record the volume of the water and solid.
d. Pour out the water without pouring out the solid (this process is called decanting). Put the wet solid
onto a paper towel so that it will dry.
e. Repeat a-d for masses of 10g, and 15g material.
f. Once you have completed 3 trials with the first metal, change to the other solid and repeat steps (a) to
(e) with this new material.
Part II: Liquids
a. Place an empty 10 mL graduated cylinder on the balance. Measure the mass on the balance to the
nearest 0.01g. You must have at least TWO numbers to the right of the decimal point. Record the
value in the data table including the proper UNIT.
b. Put about 3 ml of the liquid you are measuring into the graduated cylinder. Measure the volume by
reading the markings at the BOTTOM of the meniscus. Record the exact volume of the liquid including
the proper UNIT. Also record the exact mass to the nearest 0.01g.
c. Put another 3 ml of the liquid into the graduated cylinder (you should now have about 6 ml). Measure
the volume by reading the markings at the BOTTOM of the meniscus. Record the exact volume of the
liquid including the proper UNIT. Also record the exact mass to the nearest 0.01g.
d. Put another 3 ml of the liquid into the graduated cylinder (you should now have about 9 ml). Measure
the volume by reading the markings at the BOTTOM of the meniscus. Record the exact volume of the
liquid including the proper UNIT. Also record the exact mass to the nearest 0.01g.
e. Change to the other liquid and repeat steps (a) to (d) with this new material.
f. Put away all equipment in their proper place and clean up your lab bench area. Ask your instructor to
check it before you leave.
Name:___________________________ Partner _______________________ Date ____________ Per. ____
DATA:
Part I:
Irregularly
Material #1
Material #2
st
nd
rd
st
nd
Shaped
1 Sample
2 Sample
3 Sample
1 Sample
2 Sample
3rd Sample
Objects
Mass
Volume
(Object &
Water)
Volume
(Water at
start)
Volume
(Object)
Density Calculations
Part II
Liquid # 1: ______________________
Liquids
1st Sample
2nd Sample
3rd Sample
Mass (After
sample
added)
Mass (of
Empty
Cylinder)
Mass of
Liquid
Volume
(Of Liquid)
Density Calculations
GRAPH:
Liquid # 2: ______________________
1st Sample
2nd Sample
3rd Sample
Refer to the reference section of the lab manual regarding how to prepare a graph. This graph
should have mass along the vertical (“Y”) axis and volume along the horizontal (“X”) axis. Be sure to include
all of the appropriate labels, units, titles, scales that are required on a good graph.
Calculate the slope of each line on the graphs.
Calculate the density for each set of data.
QUESTIONS: [NOT to be answered here! Use complete sentences]
1. Is density an intensive or extensive physical property? Explain your answer
2. Which material that you used in this lab has the: (Hint: use your graph)
a. Largest slope?
b. Smallest slope?
c. In this lab, what does the slope of each line indicate?
3. Oil, water and wood are immiscible (they do not mix). Sketch a drawing of what would happen if a
sample of oil was in a graduated cylinder and water and wood were added. Label all three substances
after they have settled.
4. Calculate the percent error for each of the solids and liquids that you used in lab.
% Error =|Experimental Value – Accepted Value (listed below)| x 100%
Accepted Value
Substance
Aluminum (s)
Zinc (s)
Copper (s)
Mercury (l)
Water (l)
Saturated Salt Solution (aq)
Wood (s)
Density (g/ml)
2.70
7.14
8.96
13.6
1.00
1.197
0.49
Substance
Tin (s)
Iron (s)
Lead (s)
Oil (l)
Ethanol (l)
Isopropyl Alcohol (l)
Standard glass
Density (g/ml)
7.3
7.86
11.4
0.92
0.789
0.76
~ 2.5
The density of other materials not listed here can usually be looked up either in reference books or on-line.
CONCLUSIONS:
Using the questions and graph, write a conclusion for the lab. Remember to restate the purpose of the
lab, and explain whether or not you achieved the goals (purpose) of this lab. Use the data that you
collected to support your conclusion. Don’t forget to include an analysis of the error that could have
occurred during the lab. In this section you should include the errors (mistakes) that are specific to your
lab (calculation errors do not count). You should also include ways the lab could be improved.