Beverage Density Lab

Background: In this lab, we measured the density of beverages, exploring how different substances have different densities. We know that density is mass divided by volume, and that it is determined by concentration and how much of the solute is in the solvent. We also know that density is directly proportional to concentration, unchanging with the amount of liquid. A calibration curve is made and used to show this relationship. The purpose of this lab was to measure beverages density, find out the percent sugar, and compare our results with the nutrition label, as well as look at the relationship and calibration curve. Hypothesis: If we can find the mass, volume, and density of each beverage, I predict that we will be able to find the percent of sugar in each one pretty accurately as well. If what we know if correct, we should have accurate findings and calculations, though they may not be extremely exact. Procedure: MaterialsBalance small beaker, 5 sugar solutions graduated cylinder, 4 beverages plus unknown Lab Procedure1. Plot density versus concentration for the five reference solutions on a graph. The concentration is the independent variable (xaxis) and the density is the dependent variable (y-axis). Use a ruler to draw the best-fit straight line through the data points.
2.

Use the graph to estimate the unknown sugar concentrations in the first beverage. To do this, locate the point on the y-axis that

corresponds to the density value of the beverage. Follow the point on the y-axis across horizontally to where it meets the best fit straight line through the data. Now read down vertically from this point on the best fit line to the x-axis. The point where this vertical line meets the x-axis equals the percent concentration of sugar in the beverage solution. Construct a Results Table and record the density of the beverage and the estimated percent sugar concentration.
3.

Repeat step 2 to determine the percent sugar concentration of the second beverage. Record all information in your Results Table. Calculate the actual or accepted value of the sugar concentration in weight percent for each beverage, using the nutrition label information and the measured density value. Hint: See PreLab Question #3 for how to do this calculation. Record both the nutrition label information and the actual percent sugar concentration in your Results Table. Use the following equation to calculate the percent error in our experimental determination of the sugar content in each beverage. Enter the percent error in the Results Table.

4.

5.

Results:
Solution 0% Sugar 5% Sugar 10% Sugar Mass, g 9.82 9.85 10.33 Sample Volume, mL 10.00 10.00 10.00 Density, g/mL .982 .985 1.033

15% Sugar 20% Sugar

10.42 10.64

10.00 10.00 Sample Volume, mL 10.00 10.00 10.00 10.00 10.00 10.00

1.042 1.064

Beverage PowerAde Apple Juice Lemonade Pepsi Diet Pepsi Unknown _____

Mass, g 9.95 10.06 10.13 10.19 9.62 10.23

Density, g/mL .995 1.006 1.013 1.019 .962 1.023

Beverage

Measured Percent sugar density, (experimental) g/mL

Amount of sugar (Nutrition label) 21g 41g 27g 0g 31g

Percent sugar (calculated from Nutrition label) 4.7% 2.4% 3.7% 0% 3.2%

Percent error

Powerade pepsi Apple Juice Diet pepsi Lemonade

.995 1.019 1.006 .962 1.013

4.75% 6% 5% 0% 5.5%

20% 60% 26% 0% 41%

Analysis:

My results show that in PowerAde, our calculated percentage of sugar is 4.75%, while the nutrition label says the actual percentage is 4.7%. For Diet Pepsi, we calculated a 0% sugar percentage, which is also what the label reads. Regular Pepsi had a sugar percentage of 6% according to our calculations from density, but the label only read 2.4%. Apple juice was calculated at 5% sugar, but the label said it was only 3.7%. Lemonade had a 5.5% sugar level according to our experiment, with an actual 3.2% sugar concentration. Our calculated percent sugar for the unknown beverage came out to be 7% sugar. In measuring the percent if sugar in beverages by using density, we came pretty close to the actual value printed on the label, or so it appears. Our percent error was 20% for PowerAde, 0% for Diet Pepsi, 26& for apple juice, 60% for Pepsi, and 41% for lemonade.