Question

If the liquid volumes for different sample volumes are weighed in a 250 ml beaker and the following data is collected:

Liquid Volume (ml) : Beaker and Liquid Mass (g)
10.0 : 293.097
20.0 : 305.775
30.0 : 317.825
40.0 : 329.516
50.0 : 342.712

If the beaker and liquid mass are plotted as a function of the liquid volume, which of the following statements is true?

A) The slope of the best-fit line is the density of the liquid.
B) The slope of the best-fit line is dependent upon the identity of the liquid.
C) The slope of the best-fit line is the density of the liquid, and it's dependent upon the identity of the liquid.
D) The y-intercept of the best-fit line is expected to go through (or near) the origin.

Answer 1

The slope of the best-fit line when plotting the mass of liquid and beaker against liquid volume is the density of the liquid and depends on the liquid's identity, while the y-intercept represents the mass of the empty beaker.

Step-by-step explanation:

When data collected from weighing liquid volumes in a beaker are plotted as a function of liquid volume, the slope of the best-fit line is essentially representing how much the mass increases for each additional unit of liquid volume, or effectively, the density of the liquid. In this context, since the slope indicates how much the total mass (beaker and liquid) changes with each additional milliliter of liquid, option C is correct: 'The slope of the best-fit line is the density of the liquid, and it's dependent upon the identity of the liquid'. The y-intercept, on the other hand, represents the mass of the empty beaker, so it should not be expected to pass through the origin unless the beaker is massless, which is not the case in real-world scenarios.