EXPERIMENT 2
Measurements of Mass and Volume
Outcomes
After completing this experiment, the student should be able to:
1. Perform basic laboratory measurements of mass and volume using appropriate glassware and
equipment.
2. Express measurements and calculated results with the proper number of significant figures.
3. Find the mass of a liquid from volume and density at a given temperature.
4. Determine the precision of measurements.
Introduction
Quantitative measurements are fundamental to chemistry. One must become familiar with different units
of measurement used to quantify base quantities (such as temperature, length, time, mass, etc.). The main
units which will be considered in this lab are the base quantities of temperature, length and mass and the
derived quantities of volume and density. The quantity of volume is determined through multiple length
measurements. Density is derived from the quantities of mass and volume. We will discuss below the base
quantities of temperature, length and mass, and the derived quantities of volume and density, individually.
Increments: The number of decimal places to which any measurement can be read is dependent on the
increments in which the tool used is marked. In Figure 2.1 below, notice that there are 10 subdivisions
between the 5 cm and 6 cm marks. If you subtract, the difference between the two labeled marks and then
divide by the number of spaces or increments, you can find the value of each increment shown on the tool
being used, i.e.,
3 cm – 2 cm = 1 cm (There is 1 cm difference between the two marked lines and there are 10
spaces between 2 cm and 3 cm).
1 cm/10 spaces = 0.1 cm (Each individual space or
increment on this measuring stick
represents 0.1 cm or a tenth of a
centimeter).
Note: Before you attempt any measurements, you must always
first determine the increment in the measuring tool you will
be using.
Making a Measurement: You must always keep in mind that every
measurement inherently will have an uncertainty associated with it.
This means that a measurement is only as certain as the instrument
used to make the measurement. The least significant figure that you
can claim in a measurement is the digit which value you estimate. It
is in this digit that the uncertainty lies. It is generally accepted that
the uncertainty is estimated as ± 1 in that digit, but it is the measurer
who actually decides how small the estimate of uncertainty is. We A metric ruler
have to assume that measuring devices with electronic displays have showing increments.
uncertainties of ± 1 in the last digit displayed.
Examine the ruler in the figure given above. What can we say for certain about the length of the arrow
being measured? It is certainly at least 2 cm long. In fact, it is certainly at least 2.3 cm long.
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However, the object is not exactly 2.3 cm. It is possible to estimate another digit in the hundredths place,
which will more accurately describe the length of the object. Try this your-self and record the digit.
Your estimation of the object’s length: 2.3__ cm
Some of your group members or classmates may estimate a different reading for that last hundredth’s place
digit. That is okay because there are no increments on the ruler to indicate hundredths of a cm. There is
always some error or uncertainty associated with the reading. When you report such a reading (in your
data table), others would recognize that the true length of the object is ± 0.01 cm of the reported value.
Rule of Thumb: You will generally estimate one digit beyond the increment digit. Note on the above ruler,
the increment is 0.1 cm – your length reading involves estimating to the hundredth place (or 0.01cm).
Density
Density is defined as the amount of substance present in a unit volume. In other words, density is the mass
of an object divided by its volume. It is expressed by the equation:
𝑀𝑎𝑠𝑠 𝑚
𝐷𝑒𝑛𝑠𝑖𝑡𝑦 = 𝑜𝑟 𝑑 =
𝑉𝑜𝑙𝑢𝑚𝑒 𝑉
The density equation can be rearranged to determine either the mass or the volume of a substance as follows:
𝑚
𝑚= 𝑑𝑥𝑉 𝑉=
𝑑
In calculations of density, mass is usually expressed in grams and the volume in milliliters or cubic
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centimeters. Thus, units of density are commonly expressed as g/mL for a liquid or g/cm for a solid
In this experiment, you will use balances, transfer pipets and micropipets. See experiment 1 for the details.
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Safety Precautions
Follow all safety rules described in experiment 1.
Materials and Equipment
Balance, transfer pipet (10 mL), micropipette (100 L), beakers, thermometer, Erlenmeyer flask (50 mL),
distilled water.
Experimental Procedure
Getting started
1. Obtain about 50 mL of distilled water in a beaker. Allow the beaker and water to sit on the
laboratory bench while you are learning to use the balance and the pipet. The water should come
to the temperature of the laboratory during that time.
2. Plan on using the same balance and pipet throughout the experiment.
Using Balance
1. Practice using a balance by measuring the mass of an object (such as a coin) several times.
2. Make sure the Erlenmeyer flask is clean and dry. Bring your balance to the zero position.
Measure and record the mass of the flask.
3. Remove the flask from the pan of the balance. Bring your balance to the zero position again.
Measure and record the mass of the flask once more.
4. Repeat step 3 until you have measured the mass of the Erlenmeyer flask four times.
5. Calculate the average of the 4 mass determinations.
6. The differences between the measured masses and the average should be very small. Ask your
laboratory instructor whether your results are satisfactory before you proceed.
Using Transfer Pipet
1. Practice with your pipet using distilled water (do not use the water you have set aside) until you
are comfortable with the technique.
2. Using the thermometer, note the temperature of the laboratory and of the distilled water that you
have set aside. When the temperatures are identical or very nearly identical, you are ready to
begin. Record the temperature to the nearest degree.
3. Measure and record the mass of the flask again.
4. Remove the flask from the balance. Pipet 10.0 mL of the room-temperature water into the flask.
5. Bring your balance to the zero position. Measure and record the mass of the flask now with the
10.0 mL water.
6. Remove the flask from the balance. Pipet another 10.0-mL sample into the flask. Do not pour
out the first sample (the volume of water in the flask should now be 20.0 mL). Weigh and record
the new mass.
7. Repeat until four samples of water have been delivered to the flask and the final volume is 40.0
mL.
8. Calculate the mass of water that was delivered each time from your pipet. These masses should
be approximately identical.
Table l. Density (g/mL) of Water at Various Temperatures (oC)
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Temp. (oC) Density Temp. (oC) Density Temp. (oC) Density
(g/mL) (g/mL) (g/mL)
17 0.9988 22 0.9978 27 0.9965
18 0.9986 23 0.9976 28 0.9962
19 0.9984 24 0.9973 29 0.9959
20 0.9982 25 0.9971 30 0.9956
21 0.9980 26 0.9968 31 0.9953
9. You can now calculate the volume of each sample from the mass and density of water. Use the
density in Table l that corresponds to your recorded temperature.
Using Micropipet
Clean and dry a small beaker. Weigh the beaker on the 1 mg top-loading balance. Practice using the
micropipet, then deliver 5x 100. μL into a dry beaker and reweigh. Record the mass of the 500. μL
added to the beaker.
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Experimental General Chemistry 1
Experiment 2: Measurements of Mass and Volume
Laboratory Data Sheet
Name: ______________________________________________ Section: ____________
Show correct significant figures in all calculations!
1. Using analytical balance:
Addition Number 1 2 3 4
Mass of the flask (g)
Average mass (g)
Show calculations for
the average mass
2. Using transfer pipet (10.0 mL):
Temperature (oC) _____________
21 Density of water (g/mL) (from Table 1) 0.9980
_____________
Addition Number 1 2 3 4
1. Mass before addition (g) 37.012 47.072 56.990 66.967
2. Mass after addition (g) 47.072 56.990 66.967 76.891
9.918
3. Mass of added water (2 – 1) (g) 10.06 9.977 9.924
Calculated volume of water:
3/density (calculate for each of the 4
additions)
Vaverage (mL)
%error =
{(10.0 – Vaverage) /10.0}x100%
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3. Using the micropipet:
a. Mass of the beaker before addition 30.300
________________ (g)
b. Mass of the beaker after addition of 5x100. μL of water ________________
30.981 (g)
c. Mass of added water (b – a) 0.681
________________ (g)
Show your calculation of the volume:
dH2O = ___________
0.9980 g/mL
VH2O = mass(g)/density(g/ml) = ___________
0.682 mL = __________
682 μL
Calculation details:
0.9980
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