36. To accurately measure the density of a series of small irregular solids made of plastic, wood, fiberglass, and glass, which of the following laboratory tools will a student need?
Answer: A
A graduated cylinder, water, and a weighing balance are required to measure density accurately.
To determine the density of small irregular solids, a student needs a graduated cylinder to measure the volume of water displaced by the solid, a weighing balance to find the mass of the solid, and water to facilitate this measurement.
A) Graduated cylinder, water, weighing balance
This option is correct because it includes all necessary tools for measuring density. The graduated cylinder allows for the precise measurement of the displaced volume of water when the solid is submerged. The weighing balance is essential for determining the mass of the solid, and water serves as the medium for the displacement method.
B) Weighing balance, Bunsen burner, metric ruler
While the weighing balance is included in this option, it lacks the graduated cylinder and water needed for the density measurement. The Bunsen burner is irrelevant to density calculations, as it does not assist in measuring volume or mass. The metric ruler, while useful for measuring dimensions, does not apply to irregular solids where displacement is necessary.
C) Graduated cylinder, spectrophotometer, water
This option incorrectly includes a spectrophotometer, which is not relevant for measuring density. Although it has a graduated cylinder and water, the lack of a weighing balance makes it impossible to accurately determine the mass of the solid, thereby failing to allow for the calculation of density.
D) Graduated beaker, metric ruler, water
While this option contains water, the graduated beaker is not as precise as a graduated cylinder for measuring displaced volume. Moreover, the metric ruler does not provide the necessary mass measurement of the solid, which is crucial for density calculations. Hence, this option is insufficient for the task at hand.
Conclusion
The correct answer, option A, provides the essential tools for accurately measuring density, combining the means to measure both mass and volume directly. Other options fail to include either the necessary components or relevant tools, making them inadequate for this scientific measurement. Thus, A is the only choice that fulfills all requirements for measuring the density of the solids in question.