Volume When Water And Isopropyl Alcohol Are Mixed Together

1524 Words4 Pages

What is the effect on volume when water and isopropyl alcohol are mixed together?

Project Design Plan
When two substances are added together, their mass is Conserved. This is according to the Law of Conservation of Mass. Does the same apply to volume? Mark W. Meszaros, PhD claims that when isopropyl alcohol and water are mixed, the mass of the two is added, yet the volume decreases (Meszaros, M W., PhD, n.d.).
Problem Statement: When adding two substances together, one would hypothesize the addition of the volume of the two substances to equal one plus the other exactly. This is true with the mass of two substances. For example, when one adds a gram of water to another gram of water you would get a total of 2 grams. The same applies for …show more content…

Distilled water was used to obtain water from the purest source. As well, the highest available concentration of isopropyl alcohol was purchased to get the most accurate results. Pure vegetable oil was used. All topped by completing the trial twice, this assures the results are confirmed and are highly accurate.


Hypothesis
The hypothesis of this experiment: The volume of two substances, whether it be water & water, isopropyl alcohol & water, or vegetable oil & water; they will always be additive when mixed together and measured. The density will remain equal. This ruling is based on a contradiction with the statement made by Mark W. Meszaros, PhD, stating that they will be subtractive.
Process of Data Collection
Contrary to the prediction, the volume of the main mixture in question, isopropyl alcohol & water was subtractive when mixed together. While the volumes of the two control groups were added to one another, the focus group lessened. This was measured with the 500mL measuring cup by using observational techniques to record the findings. Alas, the combination of water and isopropyl alcohol was confirmed …show more content…

*


The graphs above clearly indicate an almost flawlessly equal density throughout the mixture of water & water, plus water & alcohol. This shows that when those mixtures are created the volume is additive. Therefore, the ratio of density will be equal or nearly equal to the original substances. In addition, it shows that the density of the water & isopropyl alcohol increases, meaning that the volume is subtractive.
Conclusion
Disproof of Hypothesis
Previously, the prediction was that the volume would be additive of all 3 of the mixtures. This theory has been disproven by the multiple tests done in this experiment. When adding together the substances of water & isopropyl alcohol, the results bore a denser mixture than either of the two alone. This result points to a conclusion that the properties of volume for this mixture are subtractive by an average of a nearly 4% reduction, while the other two remain additive.
Experimental Design as a Key

Open Document