Using Density to Discover the Importance of Measurements in Chemistry

Intro
The purpose of this activity is to learn how to design a process to solve a problem in
chemistry focusing on the importance of measurements. This is what scientists do. They
investigate the world by developing procedures to answer questions, make discoveries, or
support theories about how things work in nature. The question you will be answering
while you develop your understanding of chemistry measurements is what is the
correlation between mass, volume, and density.

Lab Safety
- Goggles should be worn for the duration of this lab, including clean up.
- Check all glassware for cracks and sharp edges. Immediately inform your teacher of
any broken glass. Do not handle broken glass; this is a job for your teacher.

Materials
Beakers Metal cubes or cylinders
Graduated Cylinder Water
Balance
Ruler
Logger Pro Software

Vocabulary and Skills Learned

Quantity Measurement Unit
SI Hypothesis Accuracy
Precision Significant Figures Direct Proportion
Inverse Proportion Unit Conversions Dependent Variable
Independent Variable Graphing Density
Percent Error Extensive Phys Properties Intensive Phys Properties

Activity Steps
DAY 1 (60 min)
1. Discuss with your partner a hypothesis for the relationship (direct or inverse) between
mass and volume. Mass will be the dependent variable and volume is the independent
variable.

Phrase your hypothesis in the “If…, then…, because…” format. After the word if, you
write the independent variable, the variable you intend to change as the experimenter.
After the word then, you write your prediction for what you think will happen to the
dependent variable based on the independent variable. After the word “because”, you
write your explanation for your prediction.

You must also list at least two other variables you think you should keep constant.
Type your hypothesis here.

Check with the teacher after this step.

2. Brainstorm with your partner a detailed procedure for determining the relationship
between the mass and volume of one of the substances you’ve been given to choose from.
 Write your procedure in bullet point steps.
 Make sure you include the specific lab equipment you will use in the procedure
steps and the specific units.
 Include steps that indicate a change in your independent variable. In other words,
you start by measuring the independent variable and then measure the resulting
dependent variable. Do this with at least three different amounts so you can
observe how changing the independent variable affects the dependent variable.
 Create a data table after the procedure that will be used to record quantitative data
for the independent and dependent variable. Make sure it indicates the units you
will use. In addition, record qualitative observations about the substance.
 Make sure there are no calculation steps in your procedure. Only record
measurements you can see without doing any math in your head or otherwise.

Add your procedure and data table here.

Check with the teacher after this step.

DAY 2 (60 min and finish for HW)

3. The teacher will help you collect the materials you need for your lab.

4. Before you begin your lab procedure, record the precision of each piece of lab
equipment you will use. Then determine to which place value you will round your
measurements. Record these values here.

5. Perform your designed experiment and collect your data and observations. Organize
this information into the data table included above.

6. Calculate the volume for each of your trials using the method you chose in your
procedure. Record in data table or make new table. In other words, subtract the initial
water level from the final water level if you used the water displacement method or use
the equation length x width x height. Do all the work out by hand on a separate piece of
paper, photograph it, and paste it under this question. Make sure you round to the correct
number of significant figures based on your measurements.

7. Create a graph by plotting all of your mass and volume pairs using Logger Pro. Make
sure your dependent variable is on the y axis and your independent variable is on the x
axis and that the axes are labeled. See the separate instructions for creating graphs with
Logger Pro. Make sure you include everything mentioned in the Logger Pro instructions.
Save the graph to be pasted into this lab under this step. Determine the slope of the graph
using Logger Pro and record here with the correct number of significant figures based on
the significant figures in your measurements.

8. Calculate the density for each mass and volume data pair. In other words, you will
calculate the density three times for the substance. Do all the work out by hand on a
separate piece of paper, photograph it, and paste it under this question. Make sure you
round to the correct number of significant figures based on your measurements.

9. Find the average of your density calculations from step 8 and compare this average to
the slope of the graph you determined in step 7. Briefly, explain what you observe. Do
all the work out by hand on a separate piece of paper, photograph it, and paste it under
this question. Make sure you round to the correct number of significant figures based on
your measurements.

10. The density of the materials you might have used in the experiment are listed below.
Determine the percent error of your calculated average density by using the accepted
value and the percent error equation. Do all the work out by hand on a separate piece of
paper, photograph it, and paste it under this question. Make sure you round to the correct
number of significant figures based on your measurements.

Accepted values (g/mL):

Copper – 8.96
Iron – 7.87
Aluminum – 2.70
Water – 1.00
Brass – 8.55

11. Using the slope of the graph, determine the relationship between the mass and
volume of an object. Is it direct or inverse? Type answer here.

12. Is density an extensive or intensive property? Use your data and graph to justify
your answer. Type answer here.

13. Write a conclusion. A conclusion contains a general overview of the lab purpose, a
summary of your results, and an explanation of how your results either confirm or
disconfirm your predictions. This section should include any changes you made in your
procedure with an explanation for why and also include your sources of error. There are
potential sources of error for EVERY laboratory. Think of at least two possible sources
of error and make a note of them here. Make sure they are specific to the lab and its
procedure. Do not just say “calculation” or “measuring” errors. How exactly may it
have been difficult to measure according to your procedure?
- 1 point for reference to purpose of the lab
- 2 points for the evaluation of all the predictions with specific observations and data
points
- 5 points for drawing conclusions and making inferences from the lab that relate to the
relative scientific theories or concepts. In other words for this lab, discuss how your
results relate to the concept of density and whether or not it is intensive or extensive.
- 2 points for the two sources of error

Lab Extension – Multiple Trials, Precision, and Percent Error

1. Choose a second material to determine the density of.

2. You may use the same procedure above or craft a new one. However, for this portion
of the lab, you are going to record at least two trials for each measurement. In other
words, you will measure the volume and then resulting mass and then measure the exact
same volume a second time and resulting mass. Then change the volume to your second
volume amount and repeat and then change to third volume amount and repeat. This will
give you a total of 6 volume measurements paired with 6 mass measurements. Modify
the data table you created above to record these 6 data pairs and put it here.

3. Perform the experiment and record the data.

4. Evaluate the precision of your recorded measurements here. In other words, are the
measurements for the two trials of the same data point close to each other? Type your
answer here. Be sure to cite an example from the data to support your statement.

5. Calculate the volume for each of your trials using the method you chose in your
procedure. Record in data table or make new table. In other words, subtract the initial
water level from the final water level if you used the water displacement method or use
the equation length x width x height. Do all the work out by hand on a separate piece of
paper, photograph it, and paste it under this question. Make sure you round to the correct
number of significant figures based on your measurements.

6. Create a graph by plotting all 6 of your mass and volume pairs using Logger Pro.
Make sure your dependent variable is on the y axis and your independent variable is on
the x axis and that the axes are labeled. See the separate instructions for creating graphs
with Logger Pro. Make sure you include everything mentioned in the Logger Pro
instructions. Save the graph to be pasted into this lab under this step. Determine the
slope of the graph using Logger Pro and record here with the correct number of
significant figures based on the significant figures in your measurements

7. Determine the average mass and average volume for each data point (just the average
of the two trials for each point). Do all the work out by hand FOR ONE EXAMPLE on a
separate piece of paper, photograph it, and paste it under this question. Make sure you
round to the correct number of significant figures based on your measurements. Just
write the answers for the rest of the examples to save time.

8. Using the averages calculated in step 8, determine the density for each of the three
data pairings. Do all the work out by hand FOR ONE EXAMPLE on a separate piece of
paper, photograph it, and paste it under this question. Make sure you round to the correct
number of significant figures based on your measurements. Just write the answers for the
rest of the examples to save time.

9. Find the average of your density calculations from step 8 and compare this average to
the slope of the graph you determined in step 6. Briefly, explain what you observe. Do
all the work out by hand on a separate piece of paper, photograph it, and paste it under
this question. Make sure you round to the correct number of significant figures based on
your measurements.

10. The density of the materials you might have used in the experiment are listed below.
Determine the percent error of your calculated average density by using the accepted
value and the percent error equation. Do all the work out by hand on a separate piece of
paper, photograph it, and paste it under this question. Make sure you round to the correct
number of significant figures based on your measurements.

Accepted values (g/mL):

Copper – 8.96
Iron – 7.87
Aluminum – 2.70
Water – 1.00
Brass – 8.55

11. Compare the percent error you calculated for the first substance you used to the
percent error you calculated for the second substance in the lab extension. Did doing
multiple trials improve your percent error? Should it have? Explain.

12. Finally, if Harry and Sally used 15.05 g of copper for their first trial of the
experiment, how many moles of copper did they use (use Period Table to find the molar
mass of copper)?