How do we determine the specific gravity of a solution? and what unit is it in?
To determine the specific gravity of a solution, you need to compare the density of your solution to the density of a reference substance, usually water.
Here are the steps to determine specific gravity:
1. Measure the mass of a certain volume of your solution using a balance.
2. Measure the mass of the same volume of water using the same balance under the same conditions.
3. Divide the mass of your solution by the mass of water. The result is the specific gravity of your solution.
Specific gravity is a unitless value. However, it is often reported with respect to water, where the specific gravity of water is 1.0. If the specific gravity of your solution is less than 1, it means it's lighter than water, and if it's greater than 1, it means it's heavier than water.