If the actual density is 1.2686 g/mL and the determined density by experiment was 1.0275 g/mL, is it reasonable to conclude the obtained product was fairly pure. I am writing a lab report and these were my results and interpretation, but I am not sure if the difference between the densities (0.2411 g/mL) is too big to consider my product fairly pure?
That is a major error. It is not fairly pure.
Agreed. You do not say what the substance is or how it was made, but as the density of you material is less than that expected then contamination with water or a solvent seems likely.
To determine whether the obtained product is fairly pure based on the difference between the actual and determined densities, let's analyze the situation further.
Density is typically used as a physical property to assess the purity of a substance. In this case, the closer the determined density is to the actual density, the purer the product is likely to be.
To calculate the percentage difference between the actual and determined densities, you can use the following formula:
Percentage Difference = |(Actual Density - Determined Density) / Actual Density| x 100
Let's plug in the values:
Percentage Difference = |(1.2686 g/mL - 1.0275 g/mL) / 1.2686 g/mL| x 100
Calculating this, we get:
Percentage Difference = 19.0%
A percentage difference of 19.0% indicates a significant deviation between the actual and determined densities. This suggests that the obtained product may not be fairly pure.
However, it's essential to consider other factors that might have influenced the density measurement, such as experimental errors, equipment limitations, or potential impurities in the sample. It's also important to assess the significance of this deviation in the context of your specific experiment and its objectives.
In your lab report, you can mention this significant difference in densities and discuss potential sources of error or factors that could have impacted the purity of the product. Providing a thorough analysis of your results and acknowledging the limitations or uncertainties in your experiment will strengthen the overall validity and reliability of your conclusions.