Determining Density of Water by Analytical Method

Introduction

This laboratory activity is intended to augment the lecture on measurements, accuracy and precision of
measuring instruments, and significant figures. Moreover, the activities herein allow the students to
analyze their experimental results using a data processor such as a spreadsheet and then present them
visually. A good application of these theories which are relevant to life sciences is to measure the density
of water (distilled).

Objectives

By the end of this experiment, students should:

 be able to appreciate and apply the principles behind accuracy and precision in measurements;
 develop the critical thinking in identifying sources of systematic and random errors in
experiments;
 be able to present their results appropriately using visualization tools such as graphs and tables;
 become familiar with data processing tools like spreadsheets (ex. MS Excel, Google Sheet); and
 be able to interpret the physical meaning of the parameters in a linear model fitted to a data set.

Theoretical Background:

Definition of Density

Density is typically defined as the mass per unit of volume of a substance. But density in the broadest
sense may be defined as a distribution of a quantity over another quantity – usually the physical space –
often as a ratio those quantities. However, it is also possible to use other physical quantities to express
density like length (linear density) or area (surface density). Example: 3 persons per room, 250 fishes per
hectare, 5 pieces of bread per pack, 3 volts per square centimeter, etc.

Importance of Water Density

While water is undoubtedly important for supporting life on Earth, its colligative properties – such as
density, freezing point, and boiling point among others – are also used as references for calibration of
some instruments like thermometers and Ohmmeter (for measuring electrical resistance). Moreover,
water density also plays a critical role on how a myriad of aquatic organisms live in water whether in
freshwater or in marine environments. Water density is a function of salinity (measure of dissolved salts,
not necessarily sodium chloride) which regulates an organism’s physiological functions. Intake of water
with too much salt content or high salinity could damage their organs like kidneys and liver.
Furthermore, the survival of some aquatic species is determined by the buoyant force (i.e. net upward
force exerted by fluids such as water), it can provide on them as given by the equation:

F B= ρgh Equation 1
where:
FB = buoyant force
 = density of seawater
g = acceleration due to gravity
h = submersion height measured from the sea surface

For a fish or other swimming organism, this might be disadvantageous because high water density means
higher buoyant force as seen in Equation 1. This means that these organisms would be spending more
energy if they intend to stay at the deeper waters perhaps to avoid a predator. Conversely, a low buoyant
force – meaning lower water density – would also be disadvantageous for non-swimming organisms like
the photosynthetic plankton. As they are photosynthetic, they need to get exposure to sunlight. But with
lower than required buoyant force to keep them afloat, they would tend to sink and thus do not get their
required sunlight to make their food. They would die eventually.

Curve Fitting

The spreadsheet tool provider, OriginLab, described data fitting as a method to “examine the relationship
between one or more predictors (independent variables) and a response variable (dependent variable),
with the goal of defining a ‘best fit’ model of the relationship” (from
https://www.originlab.com/index.aspx?go=
=Products /Origin/DataAnalysis/CurveFitting – accessed on August 1, 2022). The said model or
mathematical description of the relationship is usually applied in Physics to determine the behavior of
one physical quantity in response to other physical quantity (or quantities). The simplest method of
curve fitting is using a straight line to describe the relationship between two physical quantities, such as
mass and volume.

Instructions: items in BLUE refer to what you did in Experiment 1. Use your previous output and build
upon it in constructing the report for Experiment 2. This is the essence of how studies are usually
developed in Physics (as well as in other branches of natural science): we build upon the ideas or work of
others – including those from ourselves as starting point – in advancing our knowledge of a particular
field.

You can then refer to the items in RED below as your guide in creating your lab reports for Experiment 2.

Materials:

• Breaker (1)

• Graduated Cylinder (1)

• Triple Beam Balance

• Distilled Water

The beaker and graduated cylinder were used to measure the volume of water to be able to
compute its density. The triple beam balance was used to weigh the mass of the beaker and the
graduated cylinder with and without the distilled water.
Procedure:

To conduct the experiment successfully, these are the steps that were followed:

1. Check condition and cleanliness of materials as well as working place. Prepare pen and paper for
recording notes.

2. Check triple beam balance and calibrate it to 0t o avoid issues and come up with precise as well as
accurate measurements.

3. Measure and record each of the mass of the empty beaker and graduated cylinder.

4. Calibrate again to 0 the triple beam balance. Have an empty container filled with distilled water
(you can use the graduated cylinder or the beaker depending on which one you will measure first)for
easy pouring of water.

5. Using the beaker first, place the desired volume of distilled water in the beaker. I used 50ml of
distilled water first in the beaker.
6. Manipulate the triple beam balance by moving the three poises to achieve balance and until it
reached the zero mark. Record the mass of 50ml distilled water by adding the grams of which the
poises were placed to balance the beam.

7. Do the same procedure as number 6 with the following volume of water in the
beaker;75ml,100ml,125ml,and 175ml, respectively. 8. Subtract the mass obtained when measuring
the different volumes and the original mass of the beaker to obtain the appropriate mass of water
without the container. Set aside or you can also proceed to compute the density of water.

9. After the beaker, the same procedure will be followed using the graduated cylinder this time. The
mass of the empty cylinder was already obtained during step no.3. Place the desired volume of
distilled water in the cylinder and weigh it in the triple beam balance.

10. I used 11ml.,18ml,26ml,35ml, and 45ml volume of distilled water with the graduated cylinder
and used the triple beam balance to obtain each mass by adding the grams on where the poises are
placed for balance

11. Record each mass of each volume and subtract the original mass of the cylinder without water
from it.

12. Compute density. Use the formula Density of Distilled Water = mass/volume

13. Tabulate results and make scatter plot graph for data analysis using MS Excel

Results (table and calculation of density):

INITIAL MASS OF BEAKER= 159.9

READING NO. VOLUME MASS (WATER) DENSITY
1 5mL 3.5 g 0.7 g/mL
2 10 mL 7.7 g 0.77 g/mL
3 15 mL 11.3 g 0.75 g/mL
4 20 mL 15.4 g 0.77 g/mL
5 25 mL 18.6 g 0.74 g/mL
AVE. DENSITY 0.75 g/mL

Density of Distilled Water = mass/volume

Reading No. 1 - 3.5g/5mL = 0.7 g/mL

Reading No. 2- 7.7g/10 mL = 0.77 g/mL

Reading No. 3- 11.3 g /15 mL = 0.75 g/mL

Reading No. 4 - 15.4 g /20 mL =0.77 g/mL

Reading No. 5- 18.6 g /25 mL =0.74 g/mL

 Fig. 1 Scatter plot of Mass against Volume obtained using beaker

INITIAL MASS OF GRADUATED CYLINDER= 63.3

READING NO. VOLUME MASS (WATER) DENSITY
1 5mL 4.4 g 0.88 g/mL
2 10 mL 9.2 g 0.91 g/mL
3 15 mL 14.7 g 0.98 g/mL
4 20 mL 19.8 g 0.99 g/mL
5 25 mL 26.5 g 0.94 g/mL
AVE. DENSITY 0.94 g/mL

Density of Distilled Water = mass/volume

Reading No. 1 - 4.4 g /5mL = 0.88 g/mL

Reading No. 2- 9.2 g /10 mL = 0.91 g/mL

Reading No. 3- 14.7 g /15 mL = 0.98 g/mL

Reading No. 4- 19.8 g /20 mL =0.99 g/mL

Reading No. 5- 26.5 g /25 mL =0.94 g/mL

 Fig. 2 Scatter plot of Mass against Volume obtained using graduated cylinder

The table above displays varying distilled water mass, volume, and computed density from
Experiment number 1. In the meantime, a scatter plot shows the values for two different numerical
variables as dots (also known as scatter chart or scatter graph). Values for each data point are
represented by the position of each dot on the horizontal and vertical axes. The best chart to use
when examining relationships between data is a scatter plot. The scatter plot is also used to display
variable trends and correlations.

There are two crucial components that must be present in order to determine the density of
distilled water: mass and volume. We used the graduated cylinder and the beaker to measure
volume. As a result, both the graduated cylinder and the beaker will have two different graphs
created. Data on the mass and volume that were obtained from experiment number one were
provided in tables, and the data or variables depicted in the graph were taken from the mass and
volume column. The X-axis displayed volume, while the Y-axis displayed mass. The equation, the
Coefficient of Determination R2, and the Trendline were all added to each graph once the variables
had been plotted. On a scatter plot, a line was drawn to represent a relationship in the data. This
line, often referred to as a trendline, more clearly illustrates the relationship between the two sets
of data and may be helpful when making predictions based on the data. R2, on the other hand,
measures how much of the variance in the dependent variable can be accounted for by the
independent variable in a regression model. R2 is sometimes referred to as the coefficient of
determination in this context. R2 thus shows how well the data adhere to the regression model. R2
values vary from 0 to 1. The most popular method for assessing how well a regression model
accounts for observed data is R2. Despite the statistical measure providing some crucial insights into
the regression model, the graphic does not disclose information about the causal relationship
between the independent and dependent variables. A line segment connecting two points on a
graph indicates a slope when both variables are numerical. This slope can be expressed theoretically
as an exact formula or visually assessed in relation to the slope of other lines. Each data set
contained all of these.
 Both data sets indicate a high positive association, which is evident from the results and the
graph, with the positive data points lying very close to the drawn line. The linear was used in the
model's graphics. However, because of the high coefficient, each graph's data fit is excellent.

By plotting the collected values on scatter plots, we can visualize the relationship between
the variables. Because an increase in one variable also has an increase in its effect on the other, they
are directly proportional to one another, as shown by the data, and Mas increases correspondingly
as Volume increases. Only the density of water was used in these tests to observe the link between
mass and volume.

Now let's discuss about distilled water's density. Theoretically, water has a density of about
1g/ml. The graduated cylinder's average density is 0.83 g/ml, but the beaker's average density of
distilled water is 0.95 g/ml. The following formula will be used to calculate the percent difference
between the estimated density and theoretical density:

% difference= ( calculated density −theoretical density

theoreticaldensity )
×100 %

Replacing the calculated density by the average density of distilled water in each date set .

Beaker

% difference= ( calculatedtheoreticaldensity
density −theoretical density
) ×100 %

( )
g g
0.75 −1.0
ml ml
difference= ×100 %
g
1.0
ml

( )
g
−0.25
ml
difference= × 100 %
g
1.0
ml

difference=−25 %
Graduated Cylinder

% difference= ( calculatedtheoreticaldensity
density −theoretical density
) ×100 %

( )
g g
0.94 −1.0
ml ml
difference= × 100 %
g
1.0
ml

( )
g
−0.6
ml
difference= × 100 %
g
1.0
ml

difference=−6 %

The outcome demonstrated that the percentage differences of the graduated cylinder and beaker
are both much greater than the theoretical density of pure water. The values for the graduated
cylinder with a % difference of -6% are the closest to the theoretical density.

Reviewing the density results reveals anomalies in the computed densities since they fell short of the
desired theoretical density. Based on the potential sources of mistakes depicted in the Fish Bone
Diagram and considering the measurements of distilled water's density, a "Random Error" has
happened. Errors that occur randomly are those that are unanticipated. These might manifest as a
result of erratic and random fluctuations in the experimental setting that lead to inconsistent results.
The most likely causes of these mistakes are not rechecking the volume or level of the meniscus and
failing to level the beaker/cylinder on a flat surface.

As a finale to Laboratory Activity 2, the activity explored how to interpret data in Physics using
software in order to produce efficient and convenient work without sacrificing accuracy and
precision of measurements, giving the opportunity, experience, and knowledge. Data or variables
were visually presented, and the relationships between variables were observed, using illustrations
like graphs and tables. Graphs provide a better visual representation of data and trends and are
more effective. Additionally, mistakes were found as a result of incorrect findings, and they were
highlighted to help comprehend and explain the results.