Question

Mercury is a liquid at room temperature and has a density of 13.6 g/mL. A sample of an unknown solid substance whose volume is 450 cm is found to have a mass of 6.50 kg. Assuming it did not chemically react with or dissolve in mercury, would it float in the mercury?

Answer 1

The density of the unknown solid substance is calculated to be 14.44 g/cm³, which is more than the density of mercury (13.6 g/mL). Therefore, the substance would sink in mercury.

Step-by-step explanation:

To determine whether the unknown solid substance would float in mercury, we need to compare the density of the substance with the density of mercury. The density of mercury is 13.6 g/mL. First, we need to find the density of the unknown substance by dividing its mass by its volume.

The mass of the unknown substance is 6.50 kg (6500 g since 1kg = 1000g), and its volume is 450 cm³. Therefore, its density is 6500 g / 450 cm³ = 14.44 g/cm³.

Comparing the densities, the density of the unknown substance (14.44 g/cm³) is greater than the density of mercury (13.6 g/mL). Since the substance's density is more than that of mercury, it would sink rather than float.