SOUTH EAST ASIAN INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY, INC.

COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING
First Semester | AY 2024-2025

Synthesis of Acetaminophen – Experiment 1

Joshua Ladiona, Leo Jean Dariagan, Andrei Luis Villagonzalo, Jevanne Praise Macalam, Rica
Cea, John Roie Glima, Harrell Dave Barade, Keith Lawrence Gulmatico
Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering, First Year Block 1 | August 9, 2024

BACKGROUND

Density is a measure of how heavy something is for

its size. It's a characteristic of a substance that
doesn't change its identity. Pure substances have
unique densities, so measuring them can help
identify what the substance is. To find density, you
divide the weight of an object by how much space it
takes up.

Density is often expressed in grams per

cubic centimeter for solids, grams per
milliliter for liquids, and grams per liter for
gases. It is a quality that remains constant
regardless of how much of the substance is
present. For example, a gold coin and a
gold statue have the same density, despite
the fact that the statue contains more gold.
This differs from qualities like volume,
which are determined by the amount of
substance present. More content equals
more volume.

When scientists conduct experiments, they collect

data. Creating a graph is one technique to better
comprehend these statistics. The optimal line that
matches the data points is defined by an equation
such as y = mx + b. Here, m represents the line's
steepness, while b represents the point at which the
line crosses the y axis. This is seen in the image.

EXPERIMENT 2 | PAGE 1
SOUTH EAST ASIAN INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY, INC.
COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING
First Semester | AY 2024-2025

PROCEDURE

1. Density of Water

a. Using the electronic balance, obtain the mass of your 100-ml graduated cylinder.
Make sure it is dry before you weigh it.

Mass of graduated cylinder = 112.711g

b. Add 20-25 ml of distilled water to the graduated cylinder. Precisely measure this
volume of water. Then measure the combined mass using the electronic balance.

At 20mL of water & graduated cylinder mass is = 131.5585g

c. Add another 20-25 ml of distilled water to the graduated cylinder. Precisely

measure this volume of water, and then measure the combined mass using the
electronic balance.

At 25mL of water & graduated cylinder mass is = 136.4110g

d. Repeat Step 3 to obtain a third set of mass and volume measurements.

At 30mL of water & graduated cylinder mass is = 141.3102g

e. Use your thermometer to record the temperature of the water in your graduated
cylinder.

Temperature = 30⁰C

f. Analysis: Subtract the mass of the empty cylinder from each combined mass
measurement to obtain three mass measurements of water. Use the three sets of
mass and volume measurements to calculate three density values for water. Then
take the average of these three density values. Look up the true density of water at
the temperature used, and evaluate the accuracy of your average density value by
calculating your percent error.

mwater =mwater∧ graduated cylinder −mgraduated cylinder

mwater @ 20 mL =131.5585 g−112.7112 g=18.8473 g

mwater @ 25 mL =136.4110 g−112.7112 g=23.6998 g

EXPERIMENT 2 | PAGE 2
SOUTH EAST ASIAN INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY, INC.
COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING
First Semester | AY 2024-2025

mwater @ 30 mL =141.3102 g−112.7112 g=28.5990 g

m
ρ=
V

18.8473 g g
ρwater @ 20mL = =0.9424
20 mL mL
23.6998 g g
ρwater @ 25mL = =0.9480
25 mL mL

28.5990 g g
ρwater @ 30mL = =0.9533
30 mL mL

g g g g
ρaverage =0.9533 +0.9424 +0.9480 =0.9479
mL mL mL mL

g
True Density of water at 30⁰C = 0.9957 (Grainger, 2024)
mL

2. Density of Aluminum and the Thickness of Foil

a. Using the electronic balance, obtain the mass of a clean, dry small beaker.

Mass of beaker = 48.5882g

b. Obtain a sample of aluminum. Transfer it to the beaker, and measure the mass of the
beaker and aluminum pieces.

Mass of beaker and aluminum foil = 50.5901g

mfoil =mbeaker∧ foil−mbeaker

mfoil =50.5901 g−48.5882 g=2.0019 g

c. Pour 30-35 ml of water into your 100-ml graduated cylinder. Precisely measure this
volume.

Mass of 35mL water and graduated cylinder = 146.7907g

Volume of water in graduated cylinder = 35mL

d. Carefully add all the aluminum piece(pieces) to the water, making sure not to lose any
water to splashing. Also make sure that the pieces are all completely immersed in the
water. Measure the new volume of the water plus the aluminum.

EXPERIMENT 2 | PAGE 3
SOUTH EAST ASIAN INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY, INC.
COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING
First Semester | AY 2024-2025

V water with aluminum=36 mL

V aluminum =V water with aluminum−V water

V aluminum =36 mL−35 mL=1 mL

e. When finished, retrieve and dry the aluminum piece/s.

f. Analysis: Use your measured mass and volume (obtained via water displacement) of
the aluminum piece to calculate the density of aluminum. Then look up the true
density of aluminum and evaluate your accuracy by calculating your percent error.

2.0019 g g
ρaluminum = =0.9424
1 mL mL

g
True Density of aluminum at 25⁰C = 2.70 (Density for Some Select Substances, 2024)
mL

¿ ¿

g. Now obtain a rectangular piece of aluminum foil. Use the ruler to measure the length
and width of the piece of foil.
2.54 cm
Dimensions of foil: l=10 inch 10∈×
1∈¿=25.4 cm¿
2.54 cm
w= 10 inch 10∈×
1∈¿=25.4 cm¿
h=?

h. Measure the mass of the foil using the electronic balance.

mfoil =50.5901 g−48.5882 g=2.0019 g

i. Analysis: Use these measurements along with the density of aluminum to calculate
the thickness of the foil.

m m m m
ρ= ρ= ρ= ρAh=m h=
V l ×w × h A×h ρA
2 2
A=l× w A=(25.4 cm) A=645.16 cm

2.0019 g
m h=
h= g h=1.5500 ×10 cm
−3
ρA (2.0019 )(645.16 cm2)
mL

3. Graphical Analysis of Mass and Volume Data of an Unknown Solid (Any One Type of
Coin)

EXPERIMENT 2 | PAGE 4
SOUTH EAST ASIAN INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY, INC.
COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING
First Semester | AY 2024-2025

a. Obtain 15-20 coins of the same type (one-peso or five-peso). Make cylindrical
columns of coins of various sizes by placing coins on top of each other. Say 4 coins
in the smallest column, 7 in the second,10 in the third, and 15 in the extra-large
column. You can make one at a time and do the measurements if you do not have
enough coins.
b. Using the ruler, measure the dimensions (diameter and height) of each cylindrical
coin column. Start with the smallest column (cylinder) first and progress in order of
increasing object size.

c. Measure the mass of each cylindrical columns using an electronic balance.

Again, start with the smallest column first and progress in order of increasing
column size.

d. Analysis: Use the measured dimensions to calculate the volume of each solid
coin column. On a graph paper, plot the mass (Y) versus the volume (X) of each
measured coin column. Add a best- fit line to this plot. Calculate the slope of this
line, which is the density of the unknown solid. Then use this density to compare
with the true density of the coin listed in the table below. Calculate the percentage
error using your calculated density value and the true density value.

Parameter 4 coins 7 coins 10 coins 15 coins

Mass (g) 21.2904 g 37.2582 g 53.2260 g 79.8390 g
Length (cm) 0.7 1.3 1.9 2.8 y 2− y
ρunknown =
diameter (cm) 2.3 2.3 2.3 2.3 x 2−x
calculated volume 2.906855 5.398445 7.890035 11.62742
(cm^3) 37.25
ρunknown =
5.398

¿¿

1 Peso 7.473363
5 Pesos 8.312886
25 Cents 7.427231

EXPERIMENT 2 | PAGE 5
SOUTH EAST ASIAN INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY, INC.
COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING
First Semester | AY 2024-2025

EXPERIMENTAL DATA AND ANALYSIS

Insert table, photos and graphs.

Mass of Empty Cylinder 112.7112

Mass of Cylinder + Water (g) 131.5585 136.411 141.3102

Mass of Water only (g) 18.8473 23.6998 28.599

Volume of Water (mL) 20 25 30

Density of Water (g/mL) 0.942365 0.947992 0.9533

Average Density of Water
(g/mL)
0.947885667

Temperature of Water 30⁰C 30⁰C 30⁰C

1. Look up the true density of water at the temperature recorded: 30⁰C _

Reading Units
Mass of Empty Beaker
(g)
48.5882
Mass of Beaker and Al
pellets (g)
50.5901

Mass of Al pellets (g) 2.0019

Initial Volume of Water
in Cylinder (mL)
35.0000
Final Volume of Water
and Al pellets (mL)
36.0000
Volume of Al pellets
(mL)
1.0000

Mass of Al Foil (g) 2.0019

Length of Al Foil (cm) 25.4000

Width of Al Foil (cm) 25.4000

2. Use your measured mass and volume of the pellets to calculate the density of aluminum, in
g/cm3. Show your work, and report your answer to the correct number of significant figures.

2.0019 g g
ρaluminum = =0.9424
1 mL mL

g
¿ 0.9424 3
cm

EXPERIMENT 2 | PAGE 6
SOUTH EAST ASIAN INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY, INC.
COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING
First Semester | AY 2024-2025

3. Look up the true density of aluminum. Use this to calculate the percent error in your
experimentally determined density value. Show your work.

2.0019 g g
ρaluminum = =0.9424
1 mL mL

g
True Density of aluminum at 25⁰C = 2.70 (Density for Some Select Substances, 2024)
mL
¿ ¿

Thus, the percent error in calculating the density of the aluminum in comparison to the true density is
25.8556% which we can observe as very high. With an error percentage of almost 26%, we conclude
that the aluminum may not be pure or while conducting the experiment, there was human error
factored in it.

4. Use your measurements for the aluminum foil along with the true density of aluminum to
calculate the foil thickness, in cm. Show your work, and report your answer in scientific
notation. Consider the foil to be a very flat rectangular box, where: Volume of foil = length x
width x thickness

m m m m
ρ= ρ= ρ= ρAh=m h=
V l ×w × h A×h ρA
2 2
A=l× w A=(25.4 cm) A=645.16 cm

2.0019 g
m h=
h= g h=1.5500 ×10 cm
−3
ρA (2.0019 )(645.16 cm2)
mL

Given the foil is a 3-Dimensional box, then we can solve it as a rectangular box with a volume of L x

(height). With a little rearrangement we can now find the height of the foil which is 1.5500 ×10 cm .
W x H. first we derive the formula from the formula of density, then expand the volume to A (area) x H
−3

Parameter 4 coins 7 coins 10 coins 15 coins

Mass (g) 21.2904 g 37.2582 g 53.2260 g 79.8390 g
Length (cm) 0.7 1.3 1.9 2.8
diameter (cm) 2.3 2.3 2.3 2.3
calculated volume (
3 2.9069 5.3984 7.8900 11.6274
cm ¿

5. Show a sample calculation for volume using your measured dimensions for the small cylinder (4-
coin column).

( )
2 2
d 2.3 cm ( 3
V =π r h
2
V =π ( ) h V= π 0.7 cm )=2.9069 cm
2 2

EXPERIMENT 2 | PAGE 7
SOUTH EAST ASIAN INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY, INC.
COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING
First Semester | AY 2024-2025

6. On the graph paper supplied, plot "Mass (Y) versus Volume (X)" for all four cylinders
measured. Staple your graph to this report form.

90
80
79.839
70
60
50
mass (g)

53.226
40
30 37.2582

20
21.2904
10
0
2 4 6 8 10 12 14

volume (𝑐𝑚^3)

7. Choose two points on your best-fit line separated far from each other. The points
chosen cannot be any of your plotted data points. Circle the two points selected on
your graph, and complete the table below
X-value (cm^3) Y-value (g)
Point 1 2.9069 21.2904
Point 2 5.3984 37.2582
SLOPE (g/cm^3) 6.4087

8. Now calculate the slope (m) of your best-fit line using the equation: m = (Y2 - Y1) / (X2 - X1).
Show your work, and report your result to the correct number of significant figures.

y 2− y 1 37.2582 g−21.2904 g g
ρunknown = ρunknown = 3 3
=6.4087 3
x 2−x 1 5.3984 cm −2.9069 cm cm

EXPERIMENT 2 | PAGE 8
SOUTH EAST ASIAN INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY, INC.
COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING
First Semester | AY 2024-2025

9. You are supplied with another cylinder made of the same material. If the cylinder length is
1.83 feet, calculate the mass of this cylinder, in grams. Use the true density of the solid in
this calculation, and assume that the cylinder diameter is the same as all the other cylinders
you measured. Show your work.

g
Given: true density of 1-peso coin = 7.473363 3
cm
Length of cylinder = 1.83 feet = 55.7784 cm
Diameter = 2.3 cm
Mass=?

m m m
ρ= ρ= ρ= ρAh=m
V l ×w × h A×h

( )
2 2
d 2.3 cm 2
A=π r
2
V =π ( ) A=π =4. 1548 cm
2 2

(
m=ρAh= 7.473363
g
cm
3)( 4.1548 cm2 ) ( 55.7784 cm )=1.731938 ×10 3 g

CONCLUSIONS

This experiment is aimed to help us better understand the concept of volume and density
even further. It teaches us to formulate and solve following problems with our group. While
conducting the experiment we were able to derive new formulas such as getting the mass by
only using density, area and height or finding the height by only using the mass area and
density. Furthermore, by conducting the experiment we can confidently conclude that the
following hypothesis were supported by the data we have gathered, although some were
conclusion result on a rejection at least we were able to deliver accurate data. Maybe next
time when we conduct the experiment, we will aim accurately gather data for a better result.

EXPERIMENT 2 | PAGE 9
SOUTH EAST ASIAN INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY, INC.
COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING
First Semester | AY 2024-2025

EXPERIMENT 2 | PAGE 10
 SOUTH EAST ASIAN INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY, INC.
COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING
First Semester | AY 2024-2025

References

Density for Some Select Substances. (2024). Utexas.edu.

https://gchem.cm.utexas.edu/data/section2.php?

target=densities.php&fbclid=IwY2xjawFUSbhleHRuA2FlbQIxMAABHSFKrNBaMJ7vF1M

mYetoKQdHXBVvAmEbSvlTBuUeT9vEj0MLphXvx2a0lw_aem_aGYGdxfHNFo406ADF

RCRjQ

Grainger. (2024). Density of Water at 30 C. Illinois.edu.

https://van.physics.illinois.edu/ask/listing/2170?

fbclid=IwY2xjawFT6iRleHRuA2FlbQIxMAABHRHjJA6ygh27NAhY478EuY-

wV85duZLDZXduxN7j3-

ELrFflYvpok6TgUQ_aem_VuXrPvqzhtURL9vP3uYsTg#:~:text=The%20density%20of

%20pure%20water,of%20Chemistry%20and%20Physics%2C%20ed

EXPERIMENT 2 | PAGE 11