Density: Density Is Mass Per Unit Volume of A Substance. (G/CC)

Lecture Three
Density
Density is mass per unit volume of a substance. (g/cc).
mass
Density  Thus, if 10 mL of olive oil weighs 9.1 g, its density is:
volume
9.1g 
Desity   0.91 grams per milliliter
10mL
Specific Gravity
Specific gravity (sp gr) is a ratio, expressed decimally, of the weight of a
substance to the weight of an equal volume of a substance chosen as a standard
(Water for liquids and solids; while hydrogen for gases).
Weight of substance
Specific gravity 
Weight of equal volume of water
Thus, if 10 mL of olive oil weighs 9.1 g, and 10 mL of water, under similar

conditions, weighs 10 g, the specific gravity of the oil is:
9.1 g 
Specific gravity   0.91
10 g 
 Substances that have a specific gravity less than 1 are lighter than water.
 Substances that have a specific gravity greater than 1 are heavier than water.
In the United States Pharmacopeia, the standard temperature for specific
gravities is 25°C, except for that of alcohol, which is 15.56°C by government
regulation.
1
Density Versus Specific Gravity
The density has various units of measure, while specific gravity has no
dimension and is therefore a constant value for each substance (when
measured under controlled conditions). Thus, whereas the density of water
may be variously expressed as 1 g/mL, 1000 g/L, or 62.5 lb/cu ft, the specific
gravity of water is always 1.
Figure 1
Table 5.1 presents some representative specific gravities. Figure 1 depicts

the layering of immiscible liquids due to their relative weights.
2
Calculating the Specific Gravity of Liquids Known Weight and Volume
Calculating the specific gravity of a liquid when its weight and volume are
known involves the use of the equation:
Examples: page 69
If 54.96 mL of an oil weighs 52.78 g, what is the specific gravity of the oil?
54.96 mL of water weighs 54.96 g
Weight of substance 52.78 g 
Specific gravity of oil    0.9603, answer.
Weight of equal volum of water 54.96 g 
Pycnometer or Specific Gravity Bottle
A pycnometer is a special glass bottle used to determine specific gravity

(Fig. 2). Pycnometers are generally available for laboratory use in volumes
ranging from 1 mL to 50 mL. Pycnometers have fitted glass stoppers with a
capillary opening to allow trapped air and excess fluid to escape.
In using a pycnometer, it is first weighed empty and then

weighed again when filled to capacity with water. The weight of the
water is calculated by difference. Since 1 g of water equals 1 mL, the
exact volume of the pycnometer becomes known. Then, when any other
liquid subsequently is placed in the pycnometer, it is of equal volume
to the water, and its specific gravity may be determined.
Fig. 2
Example: Pycnometer
A 50 mL pycnometer is found to weigh 120 g when empty, 171 g when
filled with water, and 160 g when filled with an unknown liquid. Calculate the
specific gravity of the unknown liquid.
Weight of water: 171 g - 120 g = 51 g

Weight of unknown liquid: 160 g - 120 g = 40 g
3
Weight of substance (unknown liquid) 40 (g)
Specific gravity of unknown liquid    0.78
Weight of equal volum of water 51 (g)
Displacement or Plummet Method
Calculating the specific gravity of a liquid determined by the displacement
or plummet method is based on Archimedes' principle, which states that a body
immersed in a liquid displaces an amount of the liquid equal to its own volume
and suffers an apparent loss in weight equal to the weight of the displaced liquid.
Thus, we can weigh a plummet when suspended in water and when suspended in
a liquid the specific gravity of which we want to determine; and by subtracting
these weights from the weight of the plummet in air, we get the weights of equal
volumes of the liquids needed in our calculation.
Example:
A glass plummet weighs 12.64 g in air, 8.57 g when immersed in water, and
9.12 g when immersed in an oil. Calculate the specific gravity of the oil.
12.64 g — 9.12 g = 3.52 g of displaced oil
12.64 g — 8.57 g = 4.07 g of displaced water
3.52 g 
Specific gravity of oil   0.865
4.07 g 
Use of Specific Gravity in Calculations of Weight and Volume

The specific gravity is a factor that expresses how much heavier or lighter a
substance is than water, the standard with a specific gravity of 1.
For example, a liquid with a specific gravity of 1.25 is 1.25 times as heavy as
water, and a liquid with a specific gravity of 0.85 is 0.85 times as heavy as water.
Thus, if we had 50 mL of a liquid with a specific gravity of 1.2, it would weigh
1.2 times as much as an equivalent volume of water. An equivalent volume of
water, 50 mL, would weigh 50 g, and therefore the liquid would weigh 1.2 times
that, or 60 g.
4
Calculating Weight, Knowing the Volume and Specific Gravity
Based on the explanation in the previous paragraphs, we can derive the
following equation:
 Grams = Milliliters X Specific gravity
Although it is both obvious and true that one cannot multiply milliliters by specific
gravity and have a product in grams, the equation "works" because the volume of
the liquid in question is assumed to be the same volume as water for which
milliliters equal grams. So, in essence, the true equation would be:
Grams (other liquid) = Grams (of equal volume of water) X Specific gravity (other
liquid) Examples:
What is the weight, in grams, of 3620 mL of alcohol with a specific
gravity of 0.820?
3620 mL of water weigh 3620 g
3620 g X 0.820 = 2968 g, answer.
What is the weight, in grams, of 2 fl. oz. of a liquid having a specific gravity of
1.118?
In this type of problem, it is best to convert the given volume to its metric
equivalent first and then solve the problem in the metric system.
2 X 29.57 mL = 59.14 mL
59.14 mL of water weigh 59.14 g
59.14 g X 1.118 = 66.12 g, answer.
Calculating Volume, Knowing the Weight and Specific Gravity
By rearranging the previous equation, we can calculate the volume of a liquid
using the equation:
Milliliters = Grams / Specific gravity
Examples: page 72.
5
Special Considerations of Specific Gravity
Pharmaceutical Applications
Specific gravity is used to
1- Convert the weight of an ingredient or preparation to volume or vice versa.
2- Calculate the equivalent strength of a preparation on the basis of either
weight or volume.
3- Preparation of total parenteral nutrition (TPN) admixtures.
Clinical Application
Specific gravity is an important factor in urinalysis. In normal adults, the specific
gravity of urine is usually within the range of 1.010 and 1.025 with a normal fluid
intake (this range may vary with the reference source).
 A higher-than-normal specific gravity indicates that the urine is concentrated. This
may be due to:
1- The presence of excess waste products or electrolytes in the urine.
2- The presence of glucose (glucosuria) or protein (proteinuria).
3- Excessive water loss, decreased fluid intake, or other factors.
 A low specific gravity indicates that the urine is dilute, which may be a result of
1- Diabetes insipidus.
2- Renal disease (by virtue of the kidney's reduced ability to concentrate urine).
3- Increased fluid intake, intravenous hydration, or other factors.
Calculating Specific Volume

Specific volume, in pharmaceutical practice, is a ratio, expressed decimally,
of the volume of a substance to the volume of an equal weight of another substance
taken as a standard, both having the same temperature. Water is the standard.
Whereas specific gravity is a comparison of weights of equal volumes, specific
volume is a comparison of volumes of equal weights. Because of this relationship,
specific gravity and specific volume are reciprocals; that is, if they are
multiplied together, the product is 1.
Specific volume tells us how much greater (or smaller) in volume a
mass is than the same weight of water. It may be calculated by dividing the
volume of a given mass by the volume of an equal weight of water.
6
Thus, if 25 g of glycerin measures 20 mL and 25 g of water measures
25 mL under the same conditions, the specific volume of the glycerin is:
Volume of 25 g of glycerin 20mL

  0.8
Volume of 25 g of water 25mL
Calculating the specific volume of a liquid, given the volume of a specified
weight, involves the following type of calculation.
Example:
Calculate the specific volume of a syrup, 91 mL of which weighs 107.16 g.
107.16 g of water measures 107.16 mL
Specific volume of syrup =91mL / 107.16 mL= 0.849, answer.
Because specific gravity and specific volume are reciprocals, a substance

that is heavier than water will have a higher specific gravity and a lower specific
volume, whereas a substance that is lighter than water will have a lower specific
gravity and a higher specific volume. It follows, therefore, that we may
determine the specific volume of a substance by dividing 1 by its specific
gravity, and we may determine the specific gravity of a substance by dividing 1
by its specific volume.
Examples:
What is the specific volume of phosphoric acid having a specific gravity of 1.71 ?
1/ 1.71 = 0.585, answer
If a liquid has a specific volume of 1.396,what is its specific gravity?

1 / 1.396 = 0.716

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Lecture Three

Thus, if 10 mL of olive oil weighs 9.1 g, and 10 mL of water, under similar

Table 5.1 presents some representative specific gravities. Figure 1 depicts

Pycnometer or Specific Gravity Bottle

A pycnometer is a special glass bottle used to determine specific gravity

In using a pycnometer, it is first weighed empty and then

Weight of water: 171 g - 120 g = 51 g

Use of Specific Gravity in Calculations of Weight and Volume

Examples: page 72.

Calculating Specific Volume

Volume of 25 g of glycerin 20mL

Because specific gravity and specific volume are reciprocals, a substance

If a liquid has a specific volume of 1.396,what is its specific gravity?

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