How to Determine Metal Density – Canadian Conservation Institute (CCI) Notes 9/10

Equipment and materials required to determine density

• Small metal objects that can be immersed in water
• Balance with below balance weighing capability (that is, can weigh objects suspended underneath it) and that can measure to a resolution of at least 0.01 grams (see the section Balance without below balance weighing capability for how to adapt the procedure for weighing below the balance)
• Metal wire to attach to hook inside balance (a bent paperclip works well)
• Support stand or platform to hold the balance so objects can be hung underneath it from the hook
• Beakers large enough so that the objects can be totally immersed without the liquid overflowing
• Supports to hold the beakers at the correct height underneath the balance
• Tap water
• Calculator     
• Nylon thread (e.g. fishing line or an equivalent lightweight material) for suspending the objects under the balance
• Disposable nitrile gloves
• Optional: Clamps to attach the balance support to the edge of a counter

Procedure to determine density with below balance weighing capability

1. Remove the cover from the underside of the balance to expose the hook inside.
2. Place the balance on a support with a hole that allows access to the internal hook.
3. Attach a wire hook to the internal hook and then tare the balance (set it to zero).
4. Hang an object on the hook beneath the balance using nylon thread or equivalent and weigh it in air. Wear gloves when handling metal objects, especially those suspected of containing lead.
5. Fill the beaker with water and place it under the balance.
6. Lift the beaker until the object is completely immersed. Place a support under the beaker to hold it at the correct height. Make sure there are no bubbles trapped under the object or in voids within the object.
7. Weigh the immersed object.
8. Calculate the density using the equation below.
9. Compare the calculated density with the known densities of metals and alloys, using the table given below or the more comprehensive lists available in the references.
10. Repeat steps 4–9 with the remaining objects.

Calculating the density

The density ρ of an object or a material is defined as the mass m divided by the volume V; in symbols, ρ = m/V. If the object is weighed in air to determine its actual mass and weighed in a liquid to determine its (apparent) mass in the liquid, then the density of the object is given by:

The density of water is 0.998 g/cm³ at 20°C and 0.997 g/cm³ at 25°C.

Results of this procedure

Example objects

Figure 1 shows examples of eight different metal samples used to demonstrate this procedure.

The measured densities of the metal samples in Figure 1 are provided below.

In the top row, from left to right:

1. Probably cast iron (7.13 g/cm³)
2. High purity aluminum (2.70 g/cm³)
3. Reddish copper alloy (possibly 85% copper and 15% zinc, 8.23 g/cm³)
4. High purity copper (8.88 g/cm³)

In the bottom row, from left to right:

5. Cast zinc (alloy unknown, 7.09 g/cm³)
6. High purity lead (11.20 g/cm³)
7. High purity tin (7.27 g/cm³)
8. Yellow cartridge brass (70% copper and 30% zinc, 8.45 g/cm³)

In each sample, the density was determined from the above formula. For example, for the aluminum object (b) the mass was found to be 110.18 g in air and 69.45 g in water, giving a density of 2.70 g/cm³. For the cast iron object (a), the mass was 209.47 g in air and 180.13 g in water, giving 7.13 g/cm³. For the lead object (f), the mass was 102.44 g in air and 93.31 g in water, giving 11.20 g/cm³.

The measured densities of aluminum, cast iron and lead (2.70, 7.13 and 11.20 g/cm³) are close to the known densities (2.71, 7.20 and 11.33 g/cm³ from Table 1). The aluminum and lead objects are, thus, easily identified by the density.

For the cast iron object, the density alone is not enough to rule out other metals, such as zinc (known density 7.13 g/cm³). When the density of an unknown metal falls close to several metals and alloys (e.g. zinc, iron and tin), then other properties, such as magnetism and colour, will need to be determined to help identify it.

Known density of selected metals and alloys

The known density of selected metals and alloys is given in Table 1, listed in order of increasing density (ASTM 2006, Lide 1998).

Details of the balance

A balance with below balance weighing capability usually comes with a cover under the internal hook. Figure 2 shows an example of the location of the cover on the bottom of a balance.

Figure 3 shows an expanded view with the cover closed; in Figure 4, the cover is rotated open to reveal the internal hook.

Figure 5 shows a metal wire bent to form hooks on both ends. Figure 6 shows the hook on one end of the wire attached to the internal hook inside the balance.

Figure 7 shows the balance being placed over a Plexiglas stand with a hole cut in the top. The hole allows access to the hook on the underside of the balance.

Figure 8 shows the balance on a Plexiglas stand with a rectangular coupon of pure copper being weighed in air. Figure 9 shows the balance on a Plexiglas stand with a rectangular coupon of pure copper being weighed in water. A smaller Plexiglas stand is used to support the beaker at the correct height.

Figure 10 shows an example of an object with an opening that has trapped air bubbles. Be careful not to trap air bubbles in the object as this will result in an inaccurate reading.

Additional information

Using solvents other than water

If it is not appropriate to immerse an object in water, such as iron because it is so susceptible to rusting, then an organic solvent such as acetone or anhydrous ethanol can be used. Proper ventilation and appropriate personal protective equipment needs to be used. Refer to the safety data sheet (SDS) of the specific solvent for the recommended equipment. The density of acetone is 0.790 g/cm³ and the density of anhydrous ethanol is 0.789 g/cm³, both at 20°C. For someone who might need to use one of these other liquids, try measuring the density of an object using both water and one of these liquids, and compare the results.

Tips on adapting balances

Alternate stand for the balance

A plywood sheet with a hole in it can be clamped to the edge of a counter if a stand is not available to hold the balance (Figure 11).

Balance without below balance weighing capability

A balance without a weighing hook can be used to determine density, but it requires a frame to suspend the object under the balance and transfer the weight of the object to the balance. The balance must be set on a platform; a setup similar to the one in Figure 11 could be used. (In this case, the hole in the wood in Figure 11 is not needed.) A four-sided frame (shaped like a picture frame) is then fitted around the balance and the platform, resting only on the weighing pan and not touching any other part of the balance (Figure 12). The balance is tared with the frame and hook in place, and then the object is attached to the hook on the frame and weighed in air and in a liquid, just as in steps 4–9 of Procedure: determining metal density.

© Government of Canada, Canadian Conservation Institute. CCI 120260-0298
Figure 12. Front view (left side of figure) and side view (right side) showing a balance without below balance weighing capability. The top segment of the rectangular frame rests on the pan of the balance, and the object is attached to the bottom segment.

Weight for casting metals

In casting a sculpture, one needs to estimate the amount of metal needed to fill a mold of a model of the sculpture. If the model being cast can be immersed, the volume of the model can be determined by the techniques above. Then the mass m of metal needed can be calculated from the volume V of the model and the density ρ of the metal by m = ρV. (Keep in mind that extra metal is usually needed to fill the channels that guide the molten metal into the mold.)