Vegetable oil has a density of 0.92 g/cm^3. Which of the following substances would float on vegetable oil?

• A. Ice (density = 0.92 g/cm^3)
• B. Aluminum (density = 2.70 g/cm^3)
• C. Water (density = 1.00 g/cm^3)
• D. Ethanol (density = 0.79 g/cm^3)

Answer: (D)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Understand the principle of floating: A substance will float on a liquid if its density is less than the density of that liquid.
2. Identify the density of the vegetable oil, which is given as \$0.92\ \text{g/cm}^3$.
3. Compare the densities of the given substances to the density of vegetable oil:
4. - Ice has a density of \$0.92\ \text{g/cm}^3$, which is equal to vegetable oil, so it will neither clearly float nor sink easily.
5. - Aluminum has a density of \$2.70\ \text{g/cm}^3$, which is much greater than vegetable oil, so it will sink.
6. - Water has a density of \$1.00\ \text{g/cm}^3$, which is greater than vegetable oil, so it will sink.
7. - Ethanol has a density of \$0.79\ \text{g/cm}^3$, which is less than vegetable oil, so it will float.