Chapter 1 Chemical Foundations

1.8
Density

Copyright 2005 by Pearson Education, Inc.

Publishing as Benjamin Cummings

1
Density

Density
Compares the mass of an object to its volume.
Is the mass of a substance divided by its
volume.

Density expression
Density = mass = g or g = g/cm3
volume mL cm3

Note: 1 mL = 1 cm3

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Densities of Common Substances

3
Learning Check

Osmium is a very dense metal. What is its density

in g/cm3 if 50.0 g of osmium has a volume of 2.22
cm3?

1) 2.25 g/cm3
2) 22.5 g/cm3
3) 111 g/cm3

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Solution

Given: mass = 50.0 g volume = 22.2 cm3

Plan: Place the mass and volume of the osmium metal
in the density expression.

D = mass = 50.0 g
volume 2.22 cm3

calculator = 22.522522 g/cm3

final answer (2) = 22.5 g/cm3

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Volume by Displacement

A solid completely
submerged in water
displaces its own
volume of water.
The volume of the
solid is calculated
from the volume
difference.
45.0 mL - 35.5 mL
= 9.5 mL
= 9.5 cm3
Copyright 2005 by Pearson Education, Inc.
Publishing as Benjamin Cummings

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Density Using Volume
Displacement

The density of the zinc object is

then calculated from its mass
and volume.

mass = 68.60 g = 7.2 g/cm3

volume 9.5 cm3

Copyright 2005 by Pearson Education, Inc.

Publishing as Benjamin Cummings

7
Learning Check

What is the density (g/cm3) of 48.0 g of a metal if the

level of water in a graduated cylinder rises from 25.0
mL to 33.0 mL after the metal is added?

1) 0.17 g/cm3 2) 6.0 g/cm3 3) 380 g/cm3

25.0 mL 33.0 mL

object

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Solution
Given: 48.0 g Volume of water = 25.0 mL
Volume of water + metal = 33.0 mL
Need: Density (g/mL)
Plan: Calculate the volume difference. Change to cm3,
and place in density expression.
33.0 mL - 25.0 mL = 8.0 mL
8.0 mL x 1 cm3 = 8.0 cm3
1 mL
Set up Problem:
Density = 48.0 g = 6.0 g = 6.0 g/cm3
8.0 cm3 1 cm3

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Sink or Float

Ice floats in
water because
the density of ice
is less than the
density of water.
Aluminum sinks
because its
density is
greater than the
density of water. Copyright 2005 by Pearson Education, Inc.
Publishing as Benjamin Cummings

10
Learning Check

Which diagram correctly represents the liquid layers

in the cylinder? Karo (K) syrup (1.4 g/mL), vegetable
(V) oil (0.91 g/mL,) water (W) (1.0 g/mL)
1 2 3

V W K

W K V
K V W

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Solution

1)

V vegetable oil 0.91 g/mL

W water 1.0 g/mL
K Karo syrup 1.4 g/mL

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Density as a Conversion Factor

Density can be written as an equality.

For a substance with a density of 3.8 g/mL, the
equality is
3.8 g = 1 mL

From this equality, two conversion factors can be

written for density.

Conversion 3.8 g and 1 mL

factors 1 mL 3.8 g

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Learning Check

The density of octane, a component of gasoline, is

0.702 g/mL. What is the mass, in kg, of 875 mL of
octane?
1) 0.614 kg

2) 614 kg

3) 1.25 kg

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Solution

1) 0.614 kg
Given: D = 0.702 g/mL V= 875 mL
Unit plan: mL g kg
Equalities: density 0.702 g = 1 mL
and 1 kg = 1000 g

Setup: 875 mL x 0.702 g x 1 kg = 0.614 kg

1 mL 1000 g
density metric
factor factor

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Learning Check

If olive oil has a density of 0.92 g/mL, how many

liters of olive oil are in 285 g of olive oil?

1) 0.26 L
2) 0.31 L
3) 310 L

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Solution

2) 0.31 L
Given: D = 0.92 g/mL mass = 285 g
Need: volume in liters
Plan: g mL L
Equalities: 1 mL = 0.92 g and 1 L = 1000 mL
Set Up Problem:

285 g x 1 mL x 1L = 0.31 L
0.92 g 1000 mL
density metric
factor factor

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Learning Check

A group of students collected 125 empty aluminum

cans to take to the recycling center. If 21 cans
make 1.0 lb aluminum, how many liters of
aluminum (D=2.70 g/cm3) are obtained from the
cans?

1) 1.0 L 2) 2.0 L 3) 4.0 L

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Solution

1) 1.0 L

125 cans x 1.0 lb x 454 g x 1 cm3 x 1 mL x 1L

21 cans 1 lb 2.70 g 1 cm3 1000 mL

= 1.0 L

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Learning Check

Which of the following samples of metals will displace

the greatest volume of water?

1 2 3

25 g of aluminum 45 g of gold 75 g of lead

2.70 g/mL 19.3 g/mL 11.3 g/mL

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Solution

1) 25 g of aluminum
2.70 g/mL
Plan: Calculate the volume for each metal and select
the metal sample with the greatest volume.
1) 25g x 1 mL = 9.3 mL aluminum
2.70 g
2) 45 g x 1 mL = 2.3 mL gold
19.3 g
3) 75 g x 1 mL = 6.6 mL lead
11.3 g

Ref: Timberlake, Chemistry, Pearson/Benjamin Cummings, 2006, 9th Ed.

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