# Understand density and specific gravity

**URL:** <https://forumautomation.com/t/understand-density-and-specific-gravity/673>\
**Category:** Analytical Instruments\
**Created:** [December 16, 2015, 2:45am UTC](https://forumautomation.com/t/understand-density-and-specific-gravity/673 "2015-12-16T02:45:44Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 1\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![denizen](https://forumautomation.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/d/848f3c/32.png) [@denizen](https://forumautomation.com/u/denizen)\
**Post date:** [December 16, 2015, 2:45am UTC](https://forumautomation.com/t/understand-density-and-specific-gravity/673/1 "2015-12-16T02:45:45Z")

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**Density**

Density is defined as mass divided by volume The units are typically g/cm3 or g/mL since 1 mL = 1cm3

D = m/V = mass/volume

What determines the density of a fluid ?

Molecular mass Inter molecular force Presence of dissolved compounds Temperature Pressure

**Specific Gravity**

The specific gravity is the density of a substance divided by the density of water. since water’s density is essentially 1.00 g/mL at room temperature,the specific gravity of a substance is very nearly equal to its density in grams per milliliter.

Specific Gravity = density(substance) / density (water)