Question

The sink-float method is often used to identify the type of glass material found at crime scenes by determining its density.

Several different types of glass of known density are placed into solutions of varying densities. Determine whether each glass
piece will sink, float, or do neither when immersed in the given solution.
Glass that will sink
Glass that will float
Glass that will not sink or float
alkali zinc borosilicate with a density of
2.57 g/mL in a solution with a density
of 2.46 g/mL
soda borosilicate with a density of 2.27 g/mL
in a solution with a density of 2.62 g/mL
alkali strontium with a density of 2.26 g/mL in
a solution with a density of 2.34 g/mL
potash borosilicate with a density of
2.16 g/mL in a solution with a density
of 2.16 g/mL
potash soda lead with a density of 3.05 g/mL
in a solution with a density of 1.65 g/mL
Answer Bank
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Answer 1

The sink-float method is used to identify the type of glass by determining its density. Glass with higher density sinks, glass with lower density floats, and glass with equal density neither sinks nor floats. The given examples demonstrate different outcomes based on the densities of the glass and the solutions.

Step-by-step explanation:

The sink-float method is commonly used to identify the type of glass by determining its density. If the density of the glass is higher than the density of the solution it is immersed in, it will sink. If the density of the glass is lower than the density of the solution, it will float. If the density of the glass is equal to the density of the solution, it will neither sink nor float but stay suspended in the solution.

In the given examples:

1. The alkali zinc borosilicate with a density of 2.57 g/mL will sink in a solution with a density of 2.46 g/mL.
2. The soda borosilicate with a density of 2.27 g/mL will float in a solution with a density of 2.62 g/mL.
3. The alkali strontium with a density of 2.26 g/mL will neither sink nor float in a solution with a density of 2.34 g/mL.
4. The potash borosilicate with a density of 2.16 g/mL will neither sink nor float in a solution with a density of 2.16 g/mL.
5. The potash soda lead with a density of 3.05 g/mL will sink in a solution with a density of 1.65 g/mL.

Answer 2

Glass that will sink

• alkali zinc borosilicate with a density of 2.57 g/mL in a solution with a density of 2.46 g/mL

• potash soda lead with a density of 3.05 g/mL in a solution with a density of 1.65 g/mL

Glass that will float

• soda borosilicate with a density of 2.27 g/mL in a solution with a density of 2.62 g/mL

• alkali strontium with a density of 2.26 g/mL in a solution with a density of 2.34 g/mL

Glass that will not sink or float

• potash borosilicate with a density of 2.16 g/mL in a solution with a density of 2.16 g/mL

Step-by-step explanation:

Density is the property of matter that states the ratio of the amount of matter, its mass, to the space occupied by it, its volume.

So, the mathematical expression for the density is:

• density = mass / volume

By comparing the density of a material with the density of a liquid, you will be able to determine whether object will float, sink, or do neither when immersed in the liquid.

The greater the density of an object the more it will try to sink in the liquid.

As you must have experienced many times an inflatable ball (whose density is very low) will float in water, but a stone (whose denisty is greater) will sink in water.

The flotation condition may be summarized by:

• When the density of the object < density of the liquid, the object will float

• When the density of the object = density of the liquid: the object will neither float nor sink

• When the density of the object > density of the liquid: the object will sink.

Glass that will sink

• alkali zinc borosilicate with a density of 2.57 g/mL in a solution with a density of 2.46 g/mL, because 2.57 > 2.46.

• potash soda lead with a density of 3.05 g/mL in a solution with a density of 1.65 g/mL, because 3.05 > 1.65.

Glass that will float

• soda borosilicate with a density of 2.27 g/mL in a solution with a density of 2.62 g/mL, because 2.27 < 2.62.

• alkali strontium with a density of 2.26 g/mL in a solution with a density of 2.34 g/mL, because 2.26 < 2.34.

Glass that will not sink or float

• potash borosilicate with a density of 2.16 g/mL in a solution with a density of 2.16 g/mL, because 2.16 = 2.16