The Lost Volume Demonstration

Materials: ★☆☆ Easy to get from supermarket or hardware store
Difficulty: ★☆☆ Can be easily done by most teenagers
Safety: ★☆☆ Minimal safety procedures required

Categories: Water and Solubility

Alternative titles: Volumes Don't Always Add Up, 50 Plus 50 Doesn't Always Equal 100.

Summary

Equal volumes of water and ethyl alcohol do not add up to their combined total volume when mixed. Instead, the mixture shows a reduced volume due to molecular interactions between water and alcohol.

Procedure

  1. Measure 250 mL of water and pour it into a beaker or graduated cylinder.
  2. Measure 250 mL of ethyl alcohol in a separate container.
  3. Slowly combine the two liquids into one container.
  4. Observe and record the total volume of the mixture, it should be significantly less than 500mL.

Volumes Don't Always Add Up - Flinn Scientific:


📄 The Lost Volume Demonstration - Carolina Knowledge Center: https://knowledge.carolina.com/professional-growth/activities/the-lost-volume-demonstration/

Variations

Safety Precautions

Questions to Consider