Question

This procedure was carried out to determine the volume of a flask. The flask was weighed dry and then filled with water. If the masses of the empty flask and the filled flask were \(56.12 \mathrm{~g}\) and \(87.39 \mathrm{~g},\) respectively, and the density of water is \(0.9976 \mathrm{~g} / \mathrm{cm}^{3},\) calculate the volume of the flask in cubic centimeters.

Short answer

The volume of the flask is approximately \(31.35 \mathrm{~cm}^{3}\)

Step-by-step solution

Identify the given information

From the exercise, it can be seen that the mass of the flask when empty is \(56.12 \mathrm{~g}\) and when filled with water is \(87.39 \mathrm{~g}\). The density of water is given as \(0.9976 \mathrm{~g} / \mathrm{cm}^{3}\).

Calculate the mass of the water

The mass of the water can be calculated by subtracting the mass of the empty flask from the mass of the filled flask. This yields a water mass of \(87.39 \mathrm{~g} - 56.12 \mathrm{~g} = 31.27 \mathrm{~g}\) .

Calculate the volume of the flask

The volume of the flask can be calculated using the formula: Volume = Mass / Density. Substituting the given mass of water and the density of water into this formula gives: Volume = \(31.27 \mathrm{~g} / 0.9976 \mathrm{~g} / \mathrm{cm}^{3} = 31.35 \mathrm{~cm}^{3}\).

Key concepts

Mass and Volume Relationship

Understanding the mass and volume relationship is fundamental when studying the properties of different materials. In scientific terms, mass refers to the amount of matter in an object, while volume measures the space that object occupies. When you know the mass and volume of a substance, you can calculate its density, which is simply mass divided by volume.

For example, in the exercise provided, we use the mass of water displaced by the flask to find out the volume of the flask itself. This method is based on the principle that the mass of water displaced will be equal to the mass of the water that would fill the flask. Thus, by finding the mass of the water and knowing the density of water, the volume of the flask can be calculated accurately.

Density of Water

The density of water is an essential constant in many scientific calculations. Density is defined as the mass per unit volume of a substance and is commonly expressed in grams per cubic centimeter (g/cm³) for liquids. Freshwater has a density of approximately 1 g/cm³ at 4°C, but this value can slightly vary based on temperature, salinity, and other factors. In our exercise, the density of water is given as 0.9976 g/cm³.

This property of water allows us to calculate the volume of the flask by dividing the weight of the water it contains by its density. Since different substances have different densities, they would occupy different volumes for the same mass. The density of water is instrumental when converting between the mass of a liquid and the volume it occupies, which is exactly the process applied in determining the flask volume.

Chemical Laboratory Techniques

Chemical laboratory techniques are the backbone of experimental science. These techniques cover a wide range of methods and protocols used to manipulate and analyze chemical substances. One of the most common techniques is the measurement of mass using a balance. In the provided exercise, the mass of the flask first had to be determined when empty and again when filled with water, all of which require precise weighing techniques.

Once the mass is known, it is often necessary to calculate the volume, especially in tasks that require mixing chemical solutions or when measuring reaction yields. The procedure outlined in the exercise, where water is used to measure the volume of a container, can be seen as an application of a common laboratory technique known as displacement. Here, the water acts as a replacement for the volume the flask occupies, which is a practical approach to measure the volume of irregularly shaped objects. Ensuring proper technique and precision is integral to obtaining reliable and accurate results in the laboratory.