Solve each of the following problems: a. A urine sample has a density of 1.030 g/mL. What is the specific gravity of the sample?

Verified step by step guidance

1. Step 1: Understand the concept of specific gravity. Specific gravity is a dimensionless quantity that compares the density of a substance to the density of a reference substance, typically water at 4°C, which has a density of 1.000 g/mL.
2. Step 2: Identify the given information. The density of the urine sample is given as 1.030 g/mL.
3. Step 3: Set up the formula for specific gravity. Specific gravity is calculated using the formula: $\text{Specific Gravity}=\frac{\text{Density of the substance}}{\text{Density of water}}$.
4. Step 4: Substitute the known values into the formula. Use the density of the urine sample (1.030 g/mL) and the density of water (1.000 g/mL) in the formula.
5. Step 5: Simplify the expression to find the specific gravity. Since the units of density (g/mL) cancel out, the specific gravity is a unitless number.

Key Concepts

Density

Density is defined as the mass of a substance per unit volume, typically expressed in grams per milliliter (g/mL) or kilograms per cubic meter (kg/m³). It is a fundamental property that helps in identifying substances and understanding their behavior in different environments. In this context, the density of the urine sample is given as 1.030 g/mL, which is crucial for calculating its specific gravity.

Specific Gravity

Specific gravity is a dimensionless quantity that compares the density of a substance to the density of a reference substance, usually water at 4°C, which has a density of 1 g/mL. It is calculated by dividing the density of the substance by the density of water. Specific gravity provides insight into the concentration of solutes in a solution, making it particularly useful in medical diagnostics, such as evaluating urine samples.

Calculation of Specific Gravity

To calculate specific gravity, the formula used is: Specific Gravity = Density of the substance / Density of water. For the urine sample with a density of 1.030 g/mL, the specific gravity can be determined by dividing this value by 1 g/mL (the density of water). This calculation is straightforward and essential for interpreting the results in a clinical context.