Glycerol is a syrupy liquid often used in cosmetics and soaps. A 3.25 L sample of pure glycerol has a mass of 4.10×10³ g. What is the density of glycerol in g/cm³?

Key Concepts

Density

Density is defined as the mass of a substance divided by its volume. It is typically expressed in units such as grams per cubic centimeter (g/cm³) or kilograms per liter (kg/L). Understanding density is crucial for determining how much mass is contained in a given volume of a substance, which is essential in various applications, including chemistry and material science.

Mass and Volume

Mass is a measure of the amount of matter in an object, usually measured in grams (g) or kilograms (kg). Volume, on the other hand, is the amount of space that a substance occupies, commonly measured in liters (L) or cubic centimeters (cm³). In the context of calculating density, both mass and volume are necessary components, as density is derived from their relationship.

Unit Conversion

Unit conversion is the process of converting a quantity expressed in one set of units to another. In this question, it is important to ensure that the volume of glycerol is expressed in cubic centimeters (cm³) to match the density units of g/cm³. Understanding how to convert between liters and cubic centimeters (1 L = 1000 cm³) is essential for accurate calculations in chemistry.