A graduated cylinder contains 49.72 mL of water. What is the new water level, in mL, after 25.6 g of a metal with a density of 8.21 g / mL is submerged in the water?

Question

Please do not forget significant figures and units!

Answer 1

You must begin by finding the volume of metal that is added to the water.

Divide the mass by the density: (25.6 g)/(8.21 g/mL) = 3.12 mL of metal. This number has 3 significant figures because both terms contain the same amount (3) and so the answer should also have 3 significant figures.

Once adding the metal to the water, you will have to add the volume of the metal (3.12 mL) to the 49.72 mL of water for a total volume of 52.8 mL. This reported volume has 3 significant figures because you must use the same amount of significant figures as the number with the least amount (3.12 mL). Note the numbers are rounded as well.