LABORATORY REPORT

General Chemistry 2

9 LAYER DENSITY TOWER

by
Domaya, John Brent
Granada, Anna Louise
Parba, Kyle Nicole
Policarpio, Alexia
Reyes, Xylean
Tarrayo, Krystenne Anne

All materials have their own density. Sometimes density is confused with mass; nonetheless,
it is the relationship between mass and volume. The mass and volume are broad qualities that
depend on the amount of material. When a solid item is placed in a liquid, either it will sink
or float, it is also possible to make liquids sink or float whenever put in another liquid. The
major purpose of this experiment is to use the layer density tower to study the varying
densities of various substances.
The experiment was a success and the results were obvious with the help of various liquids
that can be found in every household. Upon conducting this experiment the protocols should
be followed correctly. Upon placing all the substances within the cylinder, the result indicated
that the bolt had the maximum density, whereas the ping pong ball had the lowest. Due to
various variations in densities, the liquids within the cylinder do not get along with other
liquids. This experiment demonstrates that the density of a material is independent of its
quantity and form.
Keywords: Density, Mass, Volume, Liquids, Substances

Introduction densely packed it is together. The atomic mass

of a certain compound or element influences
The Greek mathematician, Archimedes, was
density. It is useful for identifying substances
tasked by the King of Syracuse to resolve if a
due to the various substances having varied
craftsman had tricked him by superseding
densities.
silver for some of the gold in the King’s
crown. He then contemplated the situation The matter is made up of numerous distinct
which led him to discover density in 250 BCE. atoms, varying substances that have different
His study regarding density refers to the densities depending on the mass of these
expressed mass-to-volume relationship of a atoms; depending on their mass, how they are
physical attribute of matter. Archimedes led to grouped, and their extents. The notion of
discovering that the more heightened the density will be presented and discussed in this
density of an entity of a particular region, the experiment. This will be able to explain why
more mass it contains. Density is crucial to density is a property of a substance. This
understand, although it does not only tackle would also explain why the density of a liquid
the relationship of an element’s atoms and is related to how heavy it is in comparison to
molecule compounds, it also tackles how the size of the material. The density of it is a
measure of how heavy it is in relation to its this experiment. The research will provide
size. It is a quality of a substance that is several factors that will lead to determining the
independent of the amount of substances. structure of molecules and the substance
Whenever an object is placed in water, it sinks polarity that greatly affects the substances’
in it is denser than water, and it floats if it is density. The researchers are tasked to conduct
less dense than water. an experiment that tackles the interaction
between the 9 liquids with different densities.
To explore the concept of density, nine
This experiment also shows the factors
different liquids, and some solid materials
observed in the substances’ density and it also
were used in this experiment. This
answers the subsequent objectives:
experiment’s purpose is to run trials and
forecast the sequence of nine liquids; (1)
Honey, (2) Corn syrup, (3) Maple syrup, (4)
1. What liquid is the densest? Why?
Whole milk, (5) Dishwashing liquid, (6)
2. What liquid has the lowest density?
Water, (7) Vegetable oil, (8) Rubbing alcohol,
Why?
and (9) Lamp oil. These liquids must form a
3. What are the properties of liquid
distinct density column. This experiment has
involved in the density tower?
two possible outcomes. If the initial result is
4. Why don’t the different liquids mix?
that all liquids form transparent layers, then
5. What would happen if you change
the other possibility is that one liquid will sink
the order of liquids added in the
behind another layer.
container?
This experiment is a representation of a 6. What happens if you mix the
demonstration of stacked layers of liquids with different liquids together?
different densities; this experiment tackles 7. After dropping the different solid
how density works to have a better grasp of objects, what determines a solid to
knowledge regarding this subject.The key sink or float?
concepts regarding density are conducted in

Methods and Materials However, we used baby oil as an alternative

for lamp oil. The liquids mentioned are
This part discusses the technique used to carry
measured at 70 mL in each layer.
out the experiment in detail. The study's
timing and location, as well as the equipment
used, are also stated. The research participants
The research participants provide a large clear
prepared the equipment and materials used
container that serves as a tower, a turkey
before conducting the experiment; the first
baster, or a syringe for the application of each
step is to gather the materials and equipment
liquid in the container, and a food coloring to
that can be usually found in the kitchen’s
easily identify the liquids. The objects
pantry. The materials are arranged from the
gathered by the research participants are (1)
densest to less dense; the cups are arranged in
Metal bolts, (2) Popcorn kernel, (3)
the order they will be added. The research
Board-game die, (4) Cherry tomato, (5) Plastic
participants gathered (1) Honey, (2) Corn
beads, (6) Soda cap, and (7) Ping-pong ball.
syrup, (3) Maple syrup, (4) Whole milk, (5)
The gathered objects will be dropped after
Dishwashing liquid, (6) Water, (7) Vegetable
oil, (8) Rubber alcohol, and (9) Lamp oil.
adding the final layer; this is to test the density - Large clear glass - 9 cups
of each liquid - Honey - Turkey blaster
- 70ml Corn syrup - Food colouring
I. Time and Location - 70ml Maple syrup - Bolt
This experiment is carried out in a secure - 70ml Whole milk - Popcorn kernel
location that can withstand spillage. It is also - 70ml Dish soap - Die
at room temperature, therefore it will have no - 70ml Water - Cherry tomato
effect on the results. - 70ml Vegetable oil - Beads
- 70ml alcohol - Soda bottle cap
- 70 ml Lamp oil - Ping Pong ball
II. Materials and Equipments
III. Procedure the container. The full milk and dish soap were
then put into the vase with the turkey blaster.
The first step was to divide the liquids into
By using a turkey blaster, the remaining
equal quantities and place them in separate
liquids were poured on the edge of the vase in
cups. Before going to the next stage, different
the order specified in the materials section.
colours of food colouring were applied to the
After everything was stacked, the pieces were
cup of water and rubbing alcohol to
dropped into the vase, beginning with the bolt
differentiate them. The cup of honey was
and finishing with the ping pong ball. When it
carefully poured into the enormous glass vase,
was done, actual observation began.
followed by the 100 percent maple syrup,
trying to take care to not touch any corners of

Results Maple syrup 1.37

This chapter presents the data collected from
Honey 1.42
the experiment. The data analysis, as well as
interpretation of the findings, are also shown.
Table 1 The results of the experiment indicate that the
sequence of pouring the liquids is determined by
Liquids Density (g/cm³) their density. Each liquid does not take up the
area occupied by the liquid underneath it. Denser
Rubbing alcohol 0.79 liquids tend to sink to the bottom of less dense
Lamp oil 0.83 ones. Furthermore, the density of a liquid changes
depending on the manufacturer. Several things
Vegetable oil 0.92 are dropped, but not all of them will land in the
same location. The rationale behind this is that if
Water 1.00
an object is less dense than a specific liquid, it
Whole Milk 1.03 will float in that liquid. When an object is denser
than a liquid, it will sink until it hits the location
Dishwashing soap 1.06 in which the liquid is denser. For example, since
Corn syrup 1.33 the bolt is denser than honey, it sat at the bottom
Discussion made from mineral oil and has the
following ingredients: C11-13 Isoparaffin,
Consider the formula: density =
Barbadensis, Aloe, Fragrance, Leaf Extract,
mass/volume, where density is the amount
Acetate, and Tocopheryl. Baby oil is
of stuff packed into a given volume. It is
composed of hydrocarbons that do not
indeed a relation between an object's mass
dissolve in water. Baby oil is an example of
and volume. According to this equation, if
a hydrophobic substance that repels and
the mass of something increases but the
returns to density.
volume remains constant, the density rises.
Therefore, if the mass falls but the volume Surface tension, density, and viscosity are
remains constant, the density falls. Because the liquid qualities involved in the density
lighter liquids (like water or vegetable oil) tower. Surface tension is present because
have a lower density than heavier liquids density and surface tension can correlate;
(like honey or corn syrup), they float on more density equals higher surface tension.
top. The same amount of two distinct Each liquid in the experiment has a
liquids used in the container will have different surface tension depending on its
different densities due to their varying composition. Furthermore, while
masses. Liquids having a higher density constructing a density tower, it makes no
will sink below those with a lower density. difference whether liquids are placed first.
The densest will always be at the bottom,
Honey is the densest liquid since its
while the least dense will always be on top.
components contain mercury, arsenic, lead,
and cadmium. Honey is the densest liquid As a result, after dropping various solid
among the others, with a density of 1.38 to items based on the force's weight. The
1.45 k/gl, which explains why honey ranks object will sink if the downward weight
at the bottom of the list. The viscosity of force exerted in the water is higher than the
honey also influences its flow resistance. upward push. However, if the upward push
However, it has no effect on the flow of the water is balanced, the item will
resistance of the liquid. The honey ascend. The buoyancy affects the object
molecules are impacted, resulting in a high because everything in water loses weight
intermolecular attraction; its particles are because each object has its own buoyancy
stronger due to their viscosity. By this, force that pushes against gravity; it matches
lamp oil is the liquid with the lowest the buoyancy force acting on the object
density. As an alternative, we used baby oil. owing to the displacement of the water's
The baby oil used in the experiment is weight.

Guide Questions which is why the honey is at the bottom of

the rest of the liquids. The viscosity also
I. What liquid is the densest? Why?
affects the resistance of the honey to flow.
However, it does not affect the behaviour of
The liquid that is the densest is honey
the liquid’s resistance to flow. The
because its substances contain mercury,
molecules of the honey are impacted,
arsenic, lead, and cadmium. Honey is the
which results in having a strong
densest liquid among the others; it would
intermolecular attraction; its particles are
typically range between 1.38 to 1.45 k/gl
stronger due to their viscousness.
II. What liquid has the lowest density?
V. What would happen if you change the
Why?
order of liquids added in the container?
The liquid that has the lowest density is the
When creating a density tower it does not
lamp oil. However, we used baby oil as an
matter which of the liquids you will put
alternative. In the experiment, the baby oil
first. The densest will always stay at the
is based on mineral oil; its components are
bottom while the least dense is at the top. In
C11-13 Isoparaffin, Barbadensis, Aloe,
our observation the honey is the densest,
Fragrance, Leaf Extract, Acetate, and
therefore it's in the bottom and lamp oil
Tocopheryl. Baby oil is made up of
(baby oil) at the top, the only chance to mix
hydrocarbons, which won’t dissolve in
it together is to shake it.t really hard.
water. Baby oil is an example of
hydrophobic, in which it repels and goes
back to density. VI. What happens if you mix the
different liquids together?
If the different liquids are combined, their
III. What are the properties of liquid
chemical composition will remain and they
involved in the density tower?
will eventually form a new substance or
The properties of liquid involved in the liquid. Mixing different liquids depends on
density tower are surface tension, density, their density and viscosity; it is called
and viscosity. The surface tension is present miscible if the two or more liquids are
due to the fact that they can correlate; mixed together to form another liquid or a
higher density results in higher surface homogeneous solution. However, it is
tension. The surface tension of each liquid called immiscible if the liquids did not
in the experiment varies according to its combine or they formed two different
composition. Aside from that, mercury is layers, which is called a heterogeneous
present in the composition of honey, which solution.
results in the highest surface tension, and it
is because of the hydrogen bonding in the
molecules of the liquid. VII. After dropping the different solid
objects, what determines a solid to sink
or float?
IV. Why don’t the different liquids mix?
Dropping different solid objects depends on
the weight of the force. If the downward
The different liquids don’t mix because of
weight force exerted in the water is greater
the surface tension and density. Surface
than the upward push, the object will sink.
tension prevents the surfaces from
However, the object will rise if the upward
separating in the direction of the
push of the water is balanced. The
interference; it is the measure of the elastic
buoyancy affects the object due to the fact
force on the surface of the liquid. The
that every object in water loses weight
density is the measure of how heavy an
because every object has its buoyancy force
object is with a constant volume (Ophardt,
that pushes against gravity; it equals the
2003).
buoyancy force acting on the object due to all of them have distinct masses despite
the displacement of the weight of the water. being measured to be the same quantity,
based on how they respond when poured on
top of each other. Things with lower
Conclusion densities will always float on top of those
with greater densities. This is also
The notion of density was fully found using
applicable for the solid items that were
the resources provided and by carrying out
placed in the container; the bolt sank due to
this experiment. Water, honey, maple syrup,
its high density, while the ping-pong ball
corn syrup, dish soap, milk, vegetable oil,
floats on top of the lamp oil because of its
and baby oil were all utilised in this
low density.
experiment to demonstrate that density is
one of the qualities of matter, especially
liquid. It has also been demonstrated that
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