Question

The diagram shows the layers formed when equal volume of glycerin, vinegar, and rubbing alcohol were slowly poured into a glass cylinder.

If a soda cap settles at the layer separating the rubbing alcohol and vinegar, what correctly compares the densities of the substances?

Vinegar is denser than glycerin and the soda cap.
Rubbing alcohol is denser than vinegar and glycerin.
The soda cap is denser than glycerin and vinegar but not as dense as rubbing alcohol.
The soda cap is denser than rubbing alcohol but not denser than the vinegar and glycerin.

Answer 1

The correct answer is: The soda cap is denser than rubbing alcohol but not denser than the vinegar and glycerin.

Density of liquids can be determined by how those layers arrange (from heaviest to lightest). Layers of the liquids will remain separated because each liquid is floating on top of the more dense liquid beneath it. So, the more dense the liquid is the more it will sink to the bottom (lighter liquid will float).

Answer 2

Answer: The correct answer is the soda cap is denser than rubbing alcohol but not denser than the vinegar and glycerin.

Step-by-step explanation:

Density is defined as the ratio of mass of object to its volume. The mathematical expression of density is given as:

`\text{Density of substance}=\frac{\text{Mass of a substance}}{\text{Volume of a substance}}`

A substance having more density will sink at the bottom and the substance having less density will float at the top.

In a beaker, the bottom layer is of Glycerin, then vinegar. Soda cap is in between the layers of vinegar and rubbing alcohol. This means that, vinegar has more density than soda cap. The top most layer is of rubbing alcohol.

Thus, the order of density is as follows:

`\text{Rubbing alcohol}<\text{Soda cap}<\text{Vinegar}<\text{Glycerin}`

Hence, the correct answer is the soda cap is denser than rubbing alcohol but not denser than the vinegar and glycerin.