Chemists!!!! Question about density---anyone know???

Question

So, I know the density of water is 1.00g/mL. But would anything lower than this density (1.00g/mL) than float on water?

Example: Ether (diethyl ether) has a density of 0.715g/mL---so would it therefore float on water???? Is that how it works?

Thank you so much!

Answer 1

yes like oil and gas

Answer 2

Yup, The way it works is that if a substance placed in a second substance displaces its mass or more, it will float.  So, for example, 1.0 mL of diethyl ether will displace 1.0 mL of water meaning that 0.715 g of ether will displace 1.0 g of water, so it will float.  Now consider mercury where that 1.0 mL of mercury will displace 1.0 mL of water meaning that 13.5 g of mercury is displacing 1.0 g of water, so it will sink.

Answer 3

If two materials are immiscible, the less dense one floats on the other. However, IF the two are miscible, then there is only one layer to the extent they are miscible. For example, ethanol does not float on water; think of Jack Daniels.

Answer 4

Diethyl ether is soluble with water to a certain extent, and when dietheyl ether proportion in the mixture exceeds its solubility limit, of course you will observe separation of 2 liquids, and ether floats, but generally speaking, substances with lower density float on water.  The number speaks, my friend.  If you like to prove it, go to your chem lab and pour water in a glass bottle half-filled, then pour ether into the same bottle half the quantity of water.  Cover with cap tightly and shake to mix.  Let stand. Observe.  

Do you ever wonder why ice cubes float on liquid water?  Ice is also water but in solid form.  It is because a given volume of liquid water expands as it solidifies.  For example, 1 g of water occupies 1 mL volume, but when it becomes solid (ice), the same 1 g now occupies a bigger volume, say 1.2 mL, so the resulting density now would be 1g/1.2mL or 0.71g/mL.  I hope this helps.

Answer 5

Yes.  Things form layers going from less dense (top) to more dense.  Fluids (liquids and gasses) do this more easily, but solids do it as well.

See the video in sources for a visual example.