EXPERIMENT 1 – Measurements

INTRODUCTION

In all sciences, measurements are essential. The most fundamental properties that can be measured are
length, mass, and time. In chemistry, temperature is also treated as a fundamental property. Other
properties of matter such as volume, area, and density are ratios or products of the fundamental properties.
For example,

(a) units of area are length x width, or (distance)2

(b) units of volume are length x width x height, or (distance)3
(c) units of density are mass / volume, or mass / (distance)3

The metric system is used almost exclusively in all sciences. The meter, kilogram, and the second are the
basic units in the International System of Units (le Système International d'Unités, SI), but the meter and
the kilogram are generally too large for convenient use in the chemistry laboratory.

Units in metric system are related to each other as multiples of ten and associated with prefixes such as,
pico (10–12), nano (10–9), micro (10–6), milli (10–3), centi (10–2), deci (10–1), kilo (103), and mega (106).
This experiment has been designed to acquaint you with several types of measurements and measuring
devices.

One of the fundamental properties of any sample of matter is its density. This property is dependent on
the mass and the volume of the sample. The relationship between density, mass, and volume is,

Density = mass / volume or D = M / V

The density of a liquid or of a solution is usually reported in units of grams per milliliter, or g/mL. The
density of a solid is reported in units of grams per cubic centimeter (g/cm3). Because 1 mL is equivalent to
1 cm3, these units are interchangeable. The density of water is 1.00000 g/cm3 at 4°C and is slightly less at
room temperature (0.9970 g/cm3 at 25°C).

For any density determination, two quantities must be determined: the mass and the volume of a given
quantity of matter. The mass can easily be determined by weighing a sample of the substance on a
balance.

The mass of a sample of liquid in a container can be found by taking the difference between the mass of
the container plus the liquid and the mass of the empty container.

The volume of a liquid can easily be determined by means of “graduated” containers such as graduated
cylinders, pipettes, or others for routine measurements. The volume of a solid can be determined by direct
measurement if the solid has a regular geometric shape such as a cube, rectangle, or cylinder.

A convenient way to determine the volume of a solid (usually irregular-shaped) is to measure accurately
the volume of liquid displaced (raised) when an amount of the solid is dropped (immersed) in the liquid.
The volume of the solid will equal the volume of liquid which it displaces.

CHEM 1405 Experiment 1 1

Experimental Procedure
A. Mass Measurements

After cleaning the pan and zeroing the balance, take a coin (penny) and measure its mass to +/– 0.01 g. Record
the mass on the report sheet in grams and milligrams. Repeat the measurement for two other coins.

B. Volume Measurements

I. Read the volume of liquid in the graduated cylinder designated by instructor to +/– 0.1 mL.
II. Using a dropper, measure the volume of 20 drops of tap water in a 10-mL graduated cylinder.
III. Using a 10-mL pipette, transfer 10 mL of tap water to a 25-mL graduated cylinder and read the
volume of tap water in the graduated cylinder.
IV. Using a ruler or meter stick, measure the length, width, and height (thickness) of a given
wooden block and calculate the volume of the block. You will use this same block for Part D.
V. Measure the volume of a given irregular shaped solid by the water displacement method (refer
to the illustration in Part D, below). Record the type of solid used on the report sheet.

C. Temperature Measurements

Using a thermometer, determine the temperature of the following:

I. 50 mL of tap water in a 150-mL beaker.

II. About 100 mL of ice in a 250-mL beaker, with a small amount of water added.
III. 100 mL of boiling deionized water (from a deionizing filter) in a 250-mL beaker.

D. Density Measurements

Method I for Solids

Weigh a given solid on a balance to the nearest 0.01g. Make sure you zero the balance before proceeding
with each measurement. Record the type of solid used on the report sheet.
Fill a 50 or 100-mL graduated cylinder about half full with
tap water and record the volume as accurately as possible.
Next, place the solid object in the graduated cylinder and
record the water level after the solid is immersed. When
making volume measurements, you should carefully read
the lowest point of the water meniscus (the concave liquid surface
exhibited by water and aqueous solutions when measured in glass containers). Calculate the density of the
solid.

Method II for Solids

Weigh the wooden block you used in Part A on a balance to the nearest 0.01g. Make sure the balance is
properly zeroed before weighing. From the mass and previously determined volume, calculate the density
of the solid.

Method for Liquids

Weigh a 50-mL Erlenmeyer flask. Measure 10 mL of rubbing alcohol (isopropyl alcohol) in a 10-mL
graduated cylinder, add the alcohol to the flask, and reweigh. Repeat a second time. From your data,
calculate the average density of the alcohol.
CHEM 1405 Experiment 1 2
EXPERIMENT 1 – Measurements
REPORT FORM Name ___________________________

Instructor ________________________

Date ____________________________

A. Mass Measurement
Mass of a penny ________ g _________ mg

Mass of a nickel ________ g _________ mg

Mass of a quarter ________ g _________ mg

B. Volume Measurements
I. Volume of water in graduated cylinder (on the teacher’s desk) _________ mL

II. Volume of 20 drops water _________ mL

III. Volume of water delivered by pipet in graduated cylinder _________ mL

IV. Dimensions: L = __________ cm W = __________ cm H = __________ cm

Volume = __________ cm3 (show your calculation)

V. Volume of solid by water displacement method: Type of solid: __________, _________ mL

C. Temperature Measurements
I. Temperature of tap water _________ °C _________ °F
(show calculation for conversion of °C to °F)

II. Temperature of tap water + ice _________ °C _________ °F

III. Temperature of boiling water _________ °C _________ °F

CHEM 1405 Experiment 1 3

D. Density Measurements

Solid, Method I Type of Solid: ___________________________

Mass of solid __________ g

Initial volume of water (V1) __________ mL

Final volume of water (V2) __________ mL

Volume of solid (V2 - V1) __________ mL

Density of solid (show your calculation) __________ g / mL

Solid, Method II Type of Solid: Wood Block

Mass of wooden block used in Part A: _________ g

Dimensions of solid: L = _________ cm W = _________ cm H = _________ cm

Volume of solid (show your calculation) V = _________ cm3

Density of solid (show your calculation) D = _________ g / cm3

Liquid
Mass of empty 50-mL flask __________ g __________ g

Mass of flask + 10.0 mL alcohol __________ g __________ g

Mass of alcohol __________ g __________ g

Density of alcohol __________ g / mL __________ g / mL

(show your calculations)

Average density of alcohol (show your calculation) __________ g / mL

CHEM 1405 Experiment 1 4

EXPERIMENT 1 Name:

Pre-Laboratory Questions and Exercises

Due before lab begins. Answer in the space provided.

1. Define the following important terms pertaining to measurements:

a) Accuracy

b) Precision

2. A 24.20 g sample of a metal displaces 1.26 mL of water. Calculate the density of the metal.

3. A perfect cube of aluminum metal was found to weigh 20.00 g. The density of aluminum is 2.70
g/mL. What are the dimensions of the cube?

4. What is the Celsius equivalent of –40 °F?

CHEM 1405 Experiment 1 5

EXPERIMENT 1 Name:

Post-Laboratory Questions and Exercises

Due after completing the lab. Answer in the space provided.

1. How do you distinguish between mass and weight of material?

2. Calculate the density of a rectangular solid, which has a mass of 25.71 g. It is 2.30 cm long,
4.01 cm wide, and 1.82 cm high.

3. What is the difference between specific gravity and density? What is the specific gravity of
alcohol having a density of 0.79 g/mL? (Hint: You may need to Google “specific gravity.”)

4. If 15 drops of ethanol from a medicine dropper weigh 0.60 grams, how many drops does it take
from a dropper to dispense 1.0 mL of ethanol? The density of ethanol is 0.80 g/mL.

5. Using appropriate table in Handbook of chemistry and physics, report the density of each of the
following substances;

a) gold metal b) methyl alcohol (methanol) c) zinc chloride

CHEM 1405 Experiment 1 6