Consider 20 mL samples of the following liquids. Which sample has the largest mass? (LO 1.9) (a) Water (density = 1.0 g/mL) (b) Glycerol (density = 1.26 g/mL) (c) Ethanol (density = 0.79 g/mL) (d) Acetic acid (density = 1.05 g/mL

Verified step by step guidance

1. Identify the formula for mass: \( \text{mass} = \text{density} \times \text{volume} \).
2. Determine the volume of each liquid sample, which is given as 20 mL for all samples.
3. Calculate the mass of water using its density: \( \text{mass} = 1.0 \, \text{g/mL} \times 20 \, \text{mL} \).
4. Calculate the mass of glycerol using its density: \( \text{mass} = 1.26 \, \text{g/mL} \times 20 \, \text{mL} \).
5. Calculate the mass of ethanol using its density: \( \text{mass} = 0.79 \, \text{g/mL} \times 20 \, \text{mL} \).

Key Concepts

Density

Density is defined as mass per unit volume, typically expressed in grams per milliliter (g/mL). It indicates how much mass is contained in a given volume of a substance. In this question, the densities of the liquids are crucial for determining which sample has the largest mass, as mass can be calculated by multiplying density by volume.

Mass Calculation

Mass can be calculated using the formula: mass = density × volume. In this scenario, since all samples have the same volume of 20 mL, the mass of each liquid can be directly compared by multiplying their respective densities by this volume. This calculation allows for a straightforward comparison of the masses of the different liquids.

Comparison of Liquids

To determine which liquid has the largest mass, one must compare the calculated masses of each liquid based on their densities. By applying the mass calculation to each option, the liquid with the highest density will yield the greatest mass when the same volume is considered. This comparison is essential for identifying the correct answer to the question.