Questions: Mercury is a shiny liquid. Calculate its density if 1417.5 g of the substance occupies 105 mL. Be sure your answer has the correct number of significant figures.
Transcript text: Mercury is a shiny liquid. Calculate its density if 1417.5 g of the substance occupies $105 . \mathrm{mL}$. Be sure your answer has the correct number of significant figures.
Solution
Solution Steps
Step 1: Identify the Given Values
We are given the mass of mercury as 1417.5 grams and the volume it occupies as 105 mL.
Step 2: Use the Density Formula
Density (\(d\)) is calculated using the formula:
\[
d = \frac{\text{mass}}{\text{volume}}
\]
Step 3: Substitute the Given Values into the Formula
Substitute the given mass and volume into the formula:
\[
d = \frac{1417.5 \, \text{g}}{105 \, \text{mL}}
\]
Step 4: Perform the Calculation
Calculate the density:
\[
d = \frac{1417.5}{105} \approx 13.5 \, \text{g/mL}
\]
Step 5: Determine the Correct Number of Significant Figures
The mass (1417.5 g) has five significant figures, and the volume (105 mL) has three significant figures. Therefore, the density should be reported with three significant figures.
Final Answer
The density of mercury is \(\boxed{13.5 \, \text{g/mL}}\).