6 small glass beads are found to weigh 9.34 g. The beads are placed in a graduated cylinder filled with ethyl alcohol (density 0.78 g/mL). The reading of the liquid in the cylinder before the beads were added is 21.5 mL. After the beads sink to the bottom of the alcohol the reading is 24.5 mL. Calculate the density of the beads. Be sure to record your answer with the correct number of significant figures. Did it matter than alcohol rather than water is used in this experiment? Why or why not? Does it matter that this experiment was done with a collection of glass beads rather than a single solid object? Why or why not?

To calculate the density of the beads, we can use the formula:

Density = Mass / Volume

First, let's calculate the mass of the beads. Given that the 6 glass beads weigh 9.34 g, we can find the mass of a single bead by dividing this total by the number of beads:

Mass of a single bead = Total mass / Number of beads = 9.34 g / 6 = 1.56 g

Next, let's calculate the volume of the beads. We can find this by subtracting the initial and final readings on the graduated cylinder:

Volume of beads = Final reading - Initial reading = 24.5 mL - 21.5 mL = 3 mL

Now, we can calculate the density of the beads using the mass and volume values:

Density = Mass / Volume = 1.56 g / 3 mL

However, in order to use the same units for both mass and volume, we need to convert the volume from milliliters to grams.

Given that the density of ethyl alcohol is 0.78 g/mL, we can multiply the volume of the beads by this value:

Volume (in grams) = Volume (in mL) * Density of ethyl alcohol
Volume (in grams) = 3 mL * 0.78 g/mL = 2.34 g

Now we can recalculate the density:

Density = Mass / Volume = 1.56 g / 2.34 g = 0.667

The density of the beads calculated with the appropriate number of significant figures is 0.67 g/mL.

Regarding the use of ethyl alcohol instead of water, it does not matter in this experiment because we are only concerned with the relative densities of the beads.

Similarly, the fact that the experiment was done with a collection of glass beads rather than a single solid object does not matter because we are focusing on the average density of the beads.

To calculate the density of the beads, we need to determine the mass and volume of the beads.

1) Mass of the beads:
Given that 6 small glass beads weigh 9.34 g, we can calculate the mass of each individual bead:
Mass of each bead = Total mass / Number of beads
= 9.34 g / 6
= 1.56 g

2) Volume of the beads:
The change in volume of the liquid in the graduated cylinder indicates the volume of the beads. We need to subtract the initial volume reading from the final volume reading to determine this change.
Change in volume = Final volume - Initial volume
= 24.5 mL - 21.5 mL
= 3.0 mL

Now, let's calculate the density of the beads using the formula:

Density = Mass / Volume

Density = Mass of the beads / Change in volume
= 1.56 g / 3.0 mL
= 0.52 g/mL

The density of the beads is 0.52 g/mL.

Now, let's address the additional questions:

1) Does it matter that alcohol rather than water is used in this experiment? Why or why not?
No, it does not matter that alcohol (ethyl alcohol) is used instead of water. The density of a substance depends only on the mass and volume, not on the nature of the liquid used in the experiment.

2) Does it matter that this experiment was done with a collection of glass beads rather than a single solid object? Why or why not?
No, it does not matter that the experiment was done with a collection of glass beads instead of a single solid object. The density of a substance is an intrinsic property that remains the same irrespective of its size or shape. As long as we accurately measure the mass and volume, we can calculate the density regardless of the object's form.

volume of 6 glass beads = 24.5-21.5 = 3.0 mL for 6 beads = 2.0 mL/bead

mass = 9.34 for 6 beads = 1.61 g/bead
density of bead = mass/volume = ?
It doesn't matter that alcohol was used instead of water. The beads displace a volume equal to their own volume.