What is the relationship between density and volume of a substance?

What does the density of a substance represent and how is it calculated?

The Concept of Density

Density is a physical property of matter that represents the amount of mass in a given volume of a substance. It is often denoted by the symbol "ρ" (rho) and is typically measured in grams per cubic centimeter (g/cm3) or grams per milliliter (g/mL). Density is an important characteristic of a substance as it helps in identifying and distinguishing one material from another.

Calculation of Density

The formula to calculate density is:

Density = Mass / Volume

Where:

  • Density: The mass of the substance per unit volume.
  • Mass: The total amount of matter in the sample.
  • Volume: The amount of space occupied by the substance.

Therefore, the density of a substance is determined by dividing the mass of the substance by its volume. The resulting value gives an indication of how tightly packed the particles of the material are in a given space.

For example, if the density of a substance is 2 g/cm3, it means that every cubic centimeter of the material contains 2 grams of mass. Conversely, a substance with a density of 0.5 g/mL would have half a gram of mass in every milliliter of volume.

The density of a substance represents the mass of the material per unit volume. It is calculated by dividing the mass of the substance by its volume, using the formula Density = Mass / Volume. This relationship allows us to determine how much mass is packed into a specific amount of space, giving us insight into the composition and characteristics of the material.

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