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Specific gravity (the lab slang is "spee gee") or SG is a comparison of the density of a material to the density of pure water (at about 4 degrees C, the point of its maximum density). To make a comparison, a basis for comparison had to be chosen. Why not pick water? It's a natural choice because it is a stable and universally available substance. It doesn't hurt that its density is right at (but not exactly) 1000 kg/m3 or 1 g/cc. That's just frosting on the cake.

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13y ago
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13y ago

The reference substance used to calculate specific gravity of a substance, whether a liquid, solid or other, is water. We use pure water at a temperature that allows the water to assume its maximum density as the reference for specific gravity.

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Q: What is the reference substance used to calculate the specific gravity of liquid?
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What is the relationship between the density of a substance and its specific gravity?

Specific gravity is the density of a substance, compared to (divided by) the density of a reference substance, usually water.


What is specific gravity?

Specific gravity, usually referred to as relative density is the ratio of the mass of a given volume of a substance to the density of a different reference substance. Water is often used as the reference.


What is the purpose of conducting specific gravity test?

Specific gravity refers to the ratio of the density of a substance to the density of a reference substance. The purpose conducting specific gravity test is to determine if the test fluid will be heavier or lighter than the standard fluid.


What is specific gravitiy?

Specific gravity is the ratio of a substance's density to the density of a reference substance, usually water for liquids, or air for gas. For example, since the density of iron is about 8 times as much as that of water, that means that its specific gravity is 8.


How you can convert Density of Crude oil into specific Gravity?

The same way you convert any density to specific gravity. Just divide the density of the substance (crude oil in this case) by the density of the reference substance (usually water, for liquids).


What is the relashonship between scpecific gravity and density?

The specific gravity of a substance (as an example, I'll take iron) is the density of iron divided by the density of water. Or some other reference substance - but usually the comparison is with water.


How does volume affect specific gravity?

Specific gravity is otherwise known to be "Relative Density". It is the ratio of the density of a substance to that of water as water has been taken as standard. So though volume gets changed there is no chance to get change in the relative density as it is the characteristic property of the substance.


Is density the same thing as specific gravity?

Almost, but not quite. 'Specific gravity' is the density of a substancecompared to water.Numerically . . .Specific gravity of a substance = Density of the substance/Density of water.


What does specific gravity measure?

It's basically equivalent to density. More precisely, it's the ratio of the density of a substance, to the ratio of water (or some other reference substance).


What is the definition of relative density?

Relative density, is also called specific gravity, and it is the ratio of the density (mass/volume) of a substance to the density of a particular reference substance, usually water. So, where density has the units of mass/volume, relative density (specific gravity) is unitless.


What is the difference between specific gravity and density?

Relative density, or specific gravity, is the ratio of the density (mass of a unit volume) of a substance to the density of a given reference material. Specific gravity usually means relative density with respect to water.


Does aluminum have a specific gravity?

Every substance has a specific gravity. Aluminum's is around 2.6 .