Illustrated Guide to Home Forensic Science Experiments

Chapter 15. Lab III-1 Determine Densities of Glass and Plastic Specimens

Equipment and Materials

You’ll need the following items to complete this lab session. (The standard kit for this book, available from http://www.thehomescientist.com, includes the items listed in the first group.)

Materials from Kit

• Goggles

• Graduated cylinder, 10 mL

• Forceps

• Pipettes

• Test tube(s)

• Test tube rack

Materials you Provide

• Gloves

• Balance

• Isopropanol, 99% or acetone

• Specimens: glass and plastic (see text)

Warning

Glass and plastic fragments have sharp edges and may cut you. Handle them with forceps. Isopropanol is flammable. As a matter of good practice, you should always wear splash goggles, gloves, and protective clothing when working in the lab.

Background

The density of a material ...