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ERIC Number: EJ820300
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2006-Nov
Pages: 4
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-0021-9584
EISSN: N/A
Density Visualization
Keiter, Richard L.; Puzey, Whitney L.; Blitz, Erin A.
Journal of Chemical Education, v83 n11 p1629-1632 Nov 2006
Metal rods of high purity for many elements are now commercially available and may be used to construct a display of relative densities. We have constructed a display with nine metal rods (Mg, Al, Ti, V, Fe, Cu, Ag, Pb, and W) of equal mass whose densities vary from 1.74 to 19.3 g cm[superscript -3]. The relative densities of the metals may be assessed visually as they are inversely proportional to the metal heights. An attractive feature of the display for teaching purposes is that the rods may be removed from it for student examination. The number and types of metals chosen for a display can be varied according to the available budget and periodic trends of interest. Student understanding of density has been further reinforced by having them prepare plots of experimental densities of metals versus atomic mass/(radius)[superscript 3] for close-packed and body-centered cubic structures. These plots can be used to obtain Avogadro's number and to show that, for a wide range of metals, structural deviations from perfect geometries are small. (Contains 3 figures, 1 table and 9 notes.)
Division of Chemical Education of the American Chemical Society. Subscription Department, P.O. Box 1267, Bellmawr, NJ 08099-1267. Tel: 800-691-9846; Tel: 856-931-5825; Fax: 856-931-4115; e-mail: jchemed@egpp.com; Web site: http://www.jce.divched.org
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Descriptive
Education Level: Higher Education; Secondary Education
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A