❖ SPECIFIC GRAVITY ❖ USP Method of Determining the SP. GR.

of SOLIDS
➢ Specific Gravity Bottle/Pycnometer
Density (g/mL) or (g/cm3) • Substance in powder form or small
• Numerically equal to specific gravity granules
• Absolute density- mass is determined in vacuum
• The previously weighed substance
• Apparent density- mass is determined in air
is dropped into the bottle which is then
Specific Gravity filled with the standard liquid at temp. of
• Weight of the substance to the weight of an equal 25˚C
volume of another substance taken as standard • Powder must be agitated with a
• Relative density small quantity of standard, before adding
• No unit the rest to eliminate adhering bubbles of air,
Wt. of substance in air
which would introduce error
Sp. gr = x Sp. gr of std liq
Wt. of an equal volume of standard liquid • To determine the sp.gr. of solid in this method,
use the displacement method or we can use the
or wt. of std. liq. displaced weight in air and weight in the standard liquid
or loss wt. of the subs in the std. liquid
• (1) Fill up the pycnometer with the standard
Standard for the determination of Sp. gr liquid (2) Weigh the pycnometer with the
• Solid and liquid- water standard liquid (3) Empty the pycnometer and
• Gas- air or hydrogen put the solid sample into the pycnometer then fill
Temperature at which the specific gravity of a substance it up again with the standard liquid (4) Weigh it
is determined 25˚C again
For alcohol 15.56˚C
Specific gravity ranges from 0.534 to 22.48
❖ USP Method of Determining the SP. GR. Of the LIQUIDS
• 0.534 – Li: lightest metal
• 22.48 – Os: heaviest metal ➢ Pycnometer Method (Leach Pycnometer)
In metric system, density is numerically equal to specific • Most accurate method for
gravity but not in the English system the determination of the sp.
• Density of water= 62.4 lb/ft3 Gr. of liquids
• Specific gravity of water= 1 • Ex. Determine the sp. gr. of
alcohol
Example:
Given:
10 mL of water weighs 10 g
10 mL of mercury weighs 136 g
Find the density and specific gravity of mercury
𝐒𝐩. 𝐠𝐫. 𝐨𝐟 𝐚𝐥𝐜𝐨𝐡𝐨𝐥
𝑚 136 𝑔 Wpyc with alc − Wpyc empty
ρ= = = 13.6 g/mL = x sp. gr. of water
𝑣 10 𝑚𝐿 Wpyc with water − Wpyc empty

𝐬𝐩. 𝐠𝐫 𝐨𝐟 𝐇𝐠 =
Wt. of Hg in air ➢ Floatation Method
x Sp gr. of water • Archimedes’ principle
Wt. of an equal volume of water
– When a solid body is placed in a liquid in
136 g which it is capable of floating, it sinks to a
sp. gr of Hg = x 1.0 = 13.6
10 g depth where the body has displaced a
volume of liquid exactly equal to its own
weight

Belmonte & Sarto – 2EPH

 1. Hydrometers ➢ Manometric method
– instruments calibrated to • Fisher-Davidson Gravitometer
indicate the sp. gr. of a liquid • Inverse proportionality of the density and height
corresponding to the depth to of the sample and standard in the z-tube and L-
which the hydrometer sinks in tube
the liquid • Standard: CCl4 and ethyl benzene
– normally use in diagnostic
laboratory (sp. gr. of urine) 𝐡𝐭. 𝐨𝐟 𝐬𝐱 𝐝𝐞𝐧𝐬𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐨𝐟 𝐬𝐭𝐝.
Hydrometer =
𝐡𝐭. 𝐨𝐟 𝐬𝐭𝐝 𝐝𝐞𝐧𝐬𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐨𝐟 𝐬𝐱
Types of Hydrometers
A. Constant weight with variable depth of immersion ❖ SPECIFIC VOLUME (sp. vol)
1 Baume, Twadell, Cartier • Volume of the substance to the volume of an
2 Alcoholometer – hydrometer w/ equal weight of another substance taken as
thermometer, Tralles’, Gay-Lussac standard
hydrometer • No unit
B. Constant depth of immersion with variable weight 𝟏 𝟏 𝐯
𝐒𝐩. 𝐯𝐨𝐥. = = =
1 Nicholson’s 𝐬𝐩. 𝐠𝐫. 𝝆 𝐦
2 Fahrenheit’s
3 Lovis’ beads (sp. gr. beads)
■ Lovis’ beads
Useful in the following operations:
– Boiling liquid to be evaporated until it has a
given sp. gr.
– Mixing of liquids of different densities
– Balloon-shaped hollow globules of glass of
different sizes and weights
– Sp. gr. figures scratched on their sides
– Those heavier than the liquid – sink; lighter –
float
– Those remains indifferently suspended
indicated the sp. gr. of the liquid

2. Mohr Westphal Balance

– A plummet (5 mL) suspended from
the beam of the balance is immersed in
the liquid to be tested
– Disadvantage: more liquid is
needed compare to hydrometer
– the plummet is subjected to a
buoyant effect equivalent to the liquid
displaced
– the buoyant effect is measured by placing various
weights on the notched beam of the balance to effect
submersion of the plummet to a constant reference
point

Belmonte & Sarto – 2EPH