Question

If you rinse a 10 mL graduated cylinder with water and then use it while it is still wet to measure out 10.0 mL of sucrose solution, will the density you measure be greater or smaller than the true density of the solution? Why?

Answer 1

As per given problem we have taken a wet measuring cylinder which means it already contains some amount of water to it

When we add sucrose solution (for which we have to determine density) the amount of solution added to measuring cylinder is less than expected.

So mass of solution added is less to the measuring cylinder, however we are taking volume the same as 10mL

Density = mass / volume

hence due to decrease in mass the density measured will be less than the actual