Kurdistan Regional Government

Ministry of Higher Education

College of Technical Engineering
Petroleum and Energy Department

Density

Prepared by : Aland Rzgar

Supervisor : Mr. Bestwn & Mr. Akam

2022-2023
Aim of density
The aim of density is to identify pure substances and to
characterize and estimate the composition of many kinds of
mixtures.The aim of density is to identify pure substances and to
characterize and estimate the composition of many kinds of
mixtures.
Introduction
The purpose of this experiment is to understand the meaning and
significance of the density of a substance. Density is a basic physical
property of a homogeneous substance; it is an intensive property,
which means it depends only on the substance's composition and does
not vary with size or amount. The determination of density is a
nondestructive physical process for distinguishing one substance from
another. Density is the ratio of a substance's mass to its own volume.
In the metric system the unit of density for a liquid or solid is
measured in g/mL or g/em'. The cm
volume unit used with solids is numerically equal to mL volume unit
used with liquids. That is, I mL = 1 cm'.
In this experiment you will determine the density of several liquids
and compare the physical properties of those liquids.
Which is heavier, a pound of aluminum or a pound of lead? The
answer, of course, is neither, but many people confuse the words
"heavy" and "dense" "Heavy" refers to mass only. Density is the mass
of a substance contained in a unit of volume. Lead is a very dense
metal and contains a large quantity of matter in a small volume, while
aluminum, being much less dense, contains a smaller quantity of
matter in the same volume.
Theory of Density
Density measures the ratio of the mass of a substance to its
volume. It is a physical property of any substance and it is unique
to that substance. Density can be used to identify and also
determine how pure a substance is. Another way density is useful
to man is that it helps to know whether a substance will float or
sink when immersed in a liquid. For example, if a substance is less
dense than a liquid, then that substance will float and vice versa.
That is why a boat or ship will float on water because it is less
dense than water.
By Archimedes principle, a substance, when immersed in a liquid
can only displace an amount of liquid that is equal to its own
mass. Therefore, we can easily determine the density of any
substance, by finding the ratio of its mass to its volume.
Production of energy is very essential in building a sustainable
economy. Crude oil is the most common source of energy used in
all parts of the world. Crude oil is very important and it plays a
very crucial part both in the economy and the politics of our
present time. Nigeria is the seventh largest producer of crude oil in
the world. Crude oil is extracted from the ground and transported
in tanks by ships and trucks to the refinery. Along the line,
spillages occur and the environment becomes highly polluted. For
example, the Niger-Delta region of Nigeria produces crude oil and
it's highly polluted due to oil spillage. Crude oil contains mostly
hydrocarbons (compounds containing carbon and hydrogen)
whose densities are mostly less than 1 (density of water is 1.0
g/mL) and hence it will float on water whenever there is spillage
during transportation by ship or in the case of off shore drilling
(which is the case in the Niger-Delta of Nigeria). Such spillages
into the water ways and the environment are a great health hazard
especially to the marine, inland ecosystem and the human health.
It is good to determine the densities of the different hydrocarbon
fraction present in the crude oil so as to know which fraction will
float and which will sink to the bottom of the ocean and adapt the
best method of cleaning.
A mixture is made from two or more pure substances that are
physically mixed together. Each of the substance in the mixture
will still retains its chemical identity. A good example is when
water is mixed with salt or pebbles are mixed with rice. Each
substance will remain in the same pure form as it were before the
mixing process took place. There are two types of mixtures: (a)
homogeneous mixture which has a uniform composition and
properties and is also referred to as a solution. Examples include a
mixture of water and salt or a brewed coffee or tea; (b)
Heterogeneous mixture have different composition and properties
at different regions of the mixture e.g. mixture of rice and pebble,
brass (made of zine and copper).
Most substances in nature are found as mixtures and will need
different chemical or physical process to separate them into their
pure forms. This experiment uses a combination of chemical and
physical properties to separate a heterogeneous mixture of sodium
chloride, calcium carbonate and sand. Sodium Chloride is soluble
in water and can be washed out of the mixture; Calcium carbonate
can dissolve in acid to give carbon dioxide (a gas) and calcium
chloride which can be washed out of the mixture with water.
At the end of these two processes, only sand will be left in the
container in its pure form.
Tools of Density
 hydrometer
For measuring some characteristics of a liquid, such as its density
(weight per unit volume) or specific gravity (weight per unit
volume compared with water). The device consists essentially of a
weighted, sealed, long-necked glass bulb that is immersed in the
liquid being measured; the depth of flotation gives an indication of
liquid density, and the neck can be calibrated to read density,
specific gravity, or some other related characteristic.

 Pycnometers
are used for measuring and comparing densities or specific
gravities of liquids and solids, including soil.

Figure 1: Hydrometer Figure 2: Pycnometer

Procedure
 The first step is to determine the mass of the container to which
the liquid will be added. Mass is different from weight. Mass is
a measurement of the quantity of matter contained in an object
and would be the same even in zero gravity. Weight, on the
other hand, is a measurement of the amount of pull gravity has
over a specific object. So in zero gravity, an object would be
weightless. However, a weightless object would still retain its
mass. Despite the distinction between mass and weight, mass is
still measured on a scale.
 The second step is to add the liquid to the container to a pre-
determined level, such as 50 ml. Now the volume can be
calculated according to a formula. Volume is equal to pi (which
can be shortened to 3.14) multiplied by the radius of the
cylinder squared, multiplied by the height of the cylinder. (Pi is
the circumference divided by the diameter.) To determine the
radius of the cylinder for applying this formula, you can
measure its diameter and then divide the result by two.
 The third step is measure the mass of the liquid and the
container together by putting the container with the liquid in it
onto the scale. This figure now has to be converted into the
mass of the liquid alone.
 The fourth step is to take the previously measured mass of the
empty container and subtract it from the mass for the container
and the liquid combined. The resulting figure will be the mass
of the liquid on its own.
 The fifth step for determining the density of the liquid is to
divide the mass of the liquid by its volume. Because mass is
measured in grams and volume in cubic centimeters, the result
will be expressed in terms of grams per cubic centimeter.
Calculation
Discussion
How does temperature affect density?

When a liquid or gas is heated, the molecules move faster, bump

into each other, and spread apart. Because the molecules are
spread apart, they take up more space. They are less dense.

The opposite occurs when a liquid or gas is cooled. The molecules

move more slowly and take up less space.
Therefore temperature can affect density.