September 22, 2013
PRE-LAB
Title: Density of Metals – Shot Lab Purpose:
The purpose of this lab is to find out the density of different metals using their mass and volume. If the volume and mass for the metals Nickel and Copper are found, then we can figure out the density.
Materials:
Metal shot
Plastic rinse bin
Electric Balances
Calculator
Graduated Cylinders
Water
Wire Gauze
Weigh Boats
Pre-lab Questions:
1) The volume of the water is 43.0 mL
2) The volume of the metal shot and the water is 73.0 mL
3) The volume of the metal that was added to the graduated cylinder is 33.0 mL
Procedure:
1. Fill graduated cylinder with 30 mL of water.
2. Put weigh boat onto the scale and press tare.
3. Put 3 scoops of metal 1 onto weigh boat.
4. Record the mass.
5. Pour metal from weigh boat into graduated cylinder.
6. Record the volume of the metal.
7. Find the density of metal 1 for trial 1.
8. Repeat for trials 2-4. (Trial 2=7scoops of metal, Trial 3=12 scoops, Trial 4=15 scoops, Trial 5=18scoops)
9. Empty graduated cylinder and repeat steps 1-8 for Metal 3
Data Table:
Data - Metal 1 (Cu) MASS (g)
VOLUME (cm3)
Density (g/cm3)
Cu - Sample #1
18.47
2.2
8.40
Cu - Sample #2
49.75
5.7
8.70
Cu - Sample #3
99.87
11.8
8.46
Cu - Sample #4
117.16
13.9
8.43
Cu - Sample #5
130.64
15.2
8.59
Data - Metal 3 (Ni) MASS (g)
VOLUME (cm3)
Density (g/cm3)
Ni - Sample #1
16.71
1.2
13.92
Ni - Sample #2
28.37
2.6
10.91
Ni - Sample #3
38.37
3.9
9.84
Ni - Sample #4
48.57
5.0
9.71
Ni - Sample #5
58.85
6.0
9.81
Note: I didn’t have enough time to find the density for a second metal so I used someone else’s Data for Metal 3. Error: The density for nickel for the first 2 samples is off. This is probably because the masses were too small to accurately find the correct density.
POST-LAB
Calculations: Percent error = (|Your Result - Accepted Value| / Accepted Value) x 100 Percent