A flask has a mass of 78.23 g when empty and 593.63 g when filled with water. When the same flask is filled with concentrated sulfuric acid, H2SO4, its mass is 1026.57 g. What is the density of concentrated sulfuric acid? (Assume water has a density of 1.00 g/cm3 at the temperature of the measurement.) Enter NUMBERS ONLY in your answer using units of g cm-3. Please make sure you round to the appropriate number of significant figures.
This is what i did
i set the density of water .996g/cm^3 = 593.63g-78.23g/V
Solved for Volume of water and got 517.469
then to find density of sulfer i divided 1026.57/517.469
and got D= 1.983 g/cm3
Very confused though due to significant figures and roundings, can some one check my answer and correct me if i am wrong?.
To find the density of concentrated sulfuric acid, you are on the right track with your calculations. Let's go through the problem step by step to ensure the correct answer and appropriate rounding:
1. Calculate the volume of water in the flask:
V = (mass of water) / (density of water)
V = (593.63 g - 78.23 g) / (1.00 g/cm^3)
V = 515.40 cm^3
2. Calculate the density of concentrated sulfuric acid:
Density = (mass of sulfuric acid) / (volume of water)
Density = 1026.57 g / 515.40 cm^3
Density = 1.992 g/cm^3 (unrounded)
Since the density of water was given with three significant figures (1.00 g/cm^3) and the data given for the masses (78.23 g, 593.63 g, and 1026.57 g) all have four significant figures, the final answer should be rounded to four significant figures.
Therefore, the density of concentrated sulfuric acid is 1.992 g/cm^3 (rounded to four significant figures).