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Solving Problems: A Chemistry Handbook
Chemistry: Matter and Change
9
SOLVING PROBLEMS:
A CHEMISTRY HANDBOOK
CHAPTER
2
Example Problem 2-2
Calculating Density
A 1.1-g ice cube raises the level of water in a 10-mL graduated
cylinder 1.2 mL. What is the density of the ice cube?
To find the ice cube’s density, divide its mass by the volume of
water it displaced and solve.
density ϭ mass/volume
density ϭ
ϭ0.92 g/mL
Example Problem 2-3
Using Density and Volume to Find Mass
Suppose you drop a solid gold cube into a 10-mL graduated
cylinder containing 8.50 mL of water. The level of the water rises
to 10.70 mL. You know that gold has a density of 19.3 g/cm 3 , or
19.3 g/mL. What is the mass of the gold cube?
To find the mass of the gold cube, rearrange the equation for density
to solve for mass.
density ϭ mass/volume
mass ϭ volume ϫ density
Substitute the values for volume and density into the equation and
solve for mass.
mass ϭ 2.20 mL ϫ 19.3 g/mL ϭ 42.5 g
Practice Problems
5. Calculate the density of a piece of bone with a mass of 3.8 g
and a volume of 2.0 cm 3 .
6. A spoonful of sugar with a mass of 8.8 grams is poured into a
10-mL graduated cylinder. The volume reading is 5.5 mL. What
is the density of the sugar?
7. A 10.0-gram pat of butter raises the water level in a 50-mL
graduated cylinder by 11.6 mL. What is the density of the
butter?
1.1 g
ᎏ
1.2 mL