It is suggested to use benzene as an immersion liquid while determining the density of glasses by archimedes principle. But benzene is a volatile liquid. I tried to determine the density of my glass sample with benzene as an immersion liquid but I noticed that the mass of benzene was continuously decreasing when exposed to air. This means benzene was getting vaporized when exposed to air. Due to this we wont get the actual mass and the accurate density, then why is benzene suggested as an immersion liquid?
Hello Sir,
Below are the references where u can find use of benzene in archimedes principle.
http://www.ipme.ru/e-journals/MPM/no_11512/MPM115_06_kaur.pdf
https://www.researchgate.net/post/Why_we_use_benzene_to_determine_the_density_of_glasses_in_Archimedes_PrincipleCan_we_use_water_for_the_same2
Sir, I also read that even acetone is used in this method, whereas acetone is also a volatile liquid.
Dear Naziya Parveen:
For the density determination by the Archimedes principle you can determine the density of the suspending liquid using a suitable pycnometer. Otherwise, you can use a highly pure suspending liquid, from which the density is well known from reliable and accurate published data. There are several types of pycnometers; some are suitable for use with volatile liquids. For the determination of the density of the solid glass samples by the Archimedes principle, the volatilization of the suspending liquid should not be the source of a significant error, as long as care is taken with the experimental practice and with the protocol followed, particularly considering the suspending wire that typically suspends the sample holder. The wire must be very thin, while of low extensibility and high tensile strength. Metallic wires of Pt, W, or Cu can be used. One of the requirements for the suspending liquid is to possess a relatively low surface tension, what typically excludes the use of water for accurate glass density determinations. Furthermore, water tends to hydrate the surface of the glass samples, what is also not convenient.
However, the usage of toluene will be much more successful in this case. Be sure!
I want to ask other questions in same context. Does the amount of liquid in which the density is being measured also matters? And does the the shape of liquid container affects the measurement of density of any solid? Does this method gives accurate measurements for solids with weights above 1kg?
About errors possibly associated with the density-measurement of non-porous bulk solid samples by the Archimedes method, and on demoting their influence; see: https://www.researchgate.net/post/What-factors-affect-the-density-measurement-of-metals-using--How-to-get-accurate-measurements-of-density-using-this-method
For small glass samples, you may want to consider the 'method of heavy liquids', using a density gradient column, which I have briefly presented elsewhere at this forum: https://www.researchgate.net/post/How_do_I_measure_the_density_of_small_quantities_of_material_glass
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