Finding density of an unknown metal

Question

You would like to determine the density of an unknown metal. You fill a graduated cylinder with 10.00 mL of water, add 3.11 g sample of the metal, and read the final volume in the graduated cylinder as 11.00 mL. What is the density of the unknown metal?

Answer 1

Density = mass / volume

We know the mass = 3.11 g. So we need to find the volume. This is done by displacement of water.

You start with 10.00 ml of water. After adding the metal, the volume reads 11.00 ml. This means the volume of the metal is 1.00 ml (11.00 - 10.00 = 1.00). Now we have all the information we need to find the density.

Density = 3.11 g / 1.00 ml = 3.11 g / ml