1 Answer
Water is used as a reference in specific gravity because it has a well-defined density at standard conditions, making it an easy and consistent reference point for comparison.
Specific gravity is a measure of the density of a substance compared to the density of water. The formula for specific gravity is:
\[
\text{Specific Gravity} = \frac{\text{Density of Substance}}{\text{Density of Water}}
\]
At 4°C, water has a density of about 1 g/cm³, which is convenient for calculations. By using water as the reference (with a density of 1), it simplifies the process of comparing how dense a substance is relative to water. For example:
This makes water an easy and practical reference to use for determining specific gravity.
Specific gravity is a measure of the density of a substance compared to the density of water. The formula for specific gravity is:
\[
\text{Specific Gravity} = \frac{\text{Density of Substance}}{\text{Density of Water}}
\]
At 4°C, water has a density of about 1 g/cm³, which is convenient for calculations. By using water as the reference (with a density of 1), it simplifies the process of comparing how dense a substance is relative to water. For example:
- If a substance has a specific gravity greater than 1, it is denser than water and will sink.
- If a substance has a specific gravity less than 1, it is less dense than water and will float.
This makes water an easy and practical reference to use for determining specific gravity.