The term density is the mass of a substance per unit volume. The symbol most often used for density is ρ, and sometimes the letter D can also be used. Mathematically, density is defined as mass divided by volume:
- ρ = m/V
Where m = mass of the substance, V = volume.
Density is measured in g/cm3 or kg/m3.
The density of a substance is influenced by a variety of factors, such as pressure or temperature. They have little influence for most solid materials, but there's a significant effect on the density of solids and liquids.
Density is calculated depending on the type of material:
- Homogeneous materials: The density at all regions of a homogeneous object equals its total mass divided by its total volume.
- Heterogeneous materials: The density varies between different regions of the object. The density of heterogeneous materials is calculated by determining the densities of many small volumes around various locations of the said material.
- Non-compact materials: Materials such as flakes, pellets, granules or powders contain voids, such as air, water or other fluids. The density of such materials is determined by multiple methods, such as pycnometer method or mathematical expressions for various geometric shapes.
List of densities
Common densities
| Material |
Density (kg/m3) |
Notes
|
| Hydrogen
|
0.08988
|
At 0 °C and 101.325 kPa
|
| Helium
|
0.146
|
At 300 K and 101.325 kPa
|
| Aerographite
|
0.2
|
The air inside is excluded
|
| Neon (gas)
|
0.9
|
At 0 °C and 101.325 kPa
|
| Metallic microlattice
|
0.9
|
The air inside is excluded
|
| Aerogel
|
1.0
|
The air inside is excluded
|
| Air
|
1.2
|
Standard conditions
|
| Oxygen (gas)
|
1.308
|
At 300 K
|
| Fluorine (gas)
|
1.696
|
0 °C and 101.325 kPa
|
| Argon (gas)
|
1.784
|
0 °C and 101.325 kPa
|
| Nitrous oxide (gas)
|
1.8724
|
At 15 °C and 1.013 bar
|
| Chlorine (gas)
|
3.2
|
0 °C and 101.325 kPa
|
| Krypton (gas)
|
3.749
|
0 °C and 101.325 kPa
|
| Xenon (gas)
|
5.894
|
0 °C and 101.325 kPa
|
| Radon (gas)
|
9.73
|
0 °C and 101.325 kPa
|
| Tungsten hexafluoride (gas)
|
12.4
|
Standard conditions
|
| Liquid hydrogen
|
70
|
At –255 °C
|
| Styrofoam
|
75
|
Average type of styrofoam
|
| Slush hydrogen
|
85
|
At -259 °C
|
| Solid hydrogen
|
86
|
At <−259.14 °C
|
| Liquid helium
|
147
|
At 4 K
|
| Cork
|
240
|
Average type of cork
|
| Pine
|
373
|
|
| Asbestos fibers
|
400
|
|
| Liquid methane
|
422.62
|
At 111.5 K
|
| Lithium
|
535
|
|
| Wood
|
700
|
Seasoned, typical
|
| Oak
|
710
|
|
| Aluminium silicate
|
721
|
|
| RP-1
|
773
|
At 25°C
|
| Lithium hydride
|
780
|
[1]
|
| Unsymmetrical dimethylhydrazine
|
783
|
At 25°C
|
| Acetone
|
790
|
|
| Diesel
|
800
|
At standard conditions
|
| Gasoline
|
803
|
Average type, standard conditions
|
| Nitrogen (liquid)
|
808
|
At boiling point
|
| Kerosene
|
810
|
At standard conditions
|
| Lithium-6 deuteride
|
820
|
|
| UH25
|
829
|
At 25°C
|
| Potassium
|
860
|
|
| NaK (eutectic)
|
866
|
At 20°C; 77% K and 23% Na
|
| Benzene
|
870
|
At standard conditions
|
| Monomethylhydrazine
|
874
|
At 20°C
|
| Hexamethylene triperoxide diamine
|
880
|
|
| Ethylene oxide
|
882.6
|
At 10°C
|
| Aerozine 50
|
900
|
At 25°C
|
| Butter
|
911
|
|
| Peanut oil
|
914
|
|
| Palm oil
|
915
|
|
| Lithium aluminium hydride
|
917
|
|
| Ice
|
916.7
|
At 0 °C
|
| Olive oil
|
918
|
|
| Body fat
|
918
|
|
| Lard
|
919
|
|
| Corn oil
|
922
|
|
| Coconut oil
|
924
|
|
| Soya oil
|
927
|
|
| Nitrous oxide (liquid)
|
931
|
At 0 °C at 31.1 bar
|
| Sodium
|
970
|
|
| Silicone
|
993
|
|
| Water
|
1,000
|
At 4 °C
|
| Saline water
|
1,004
|
(0.9% NaCl)
|
| Pilsner (beer)
|
1,008
|
At standard conditions
|
| Hydrazine
|
1,008.5
|
At 20 °C
|
| Naphthalene
|
1,025.3
|
At 20 °C
|
| Sea water
|
1,030
|
|
| Milk
|
1,030
|
At 20 °C
|
| Blood
|
1,035
|
|
| Acetic acid
|
1,050
|
|
| Skin
|
1,050
|
|
| Human body (average)
|
1,062
|
|
| Borax
|
1121
|
|
| Nylon
|
1,150
|
|
| Oxygen (liquid)
|
1,155
|
|
| Ammonium acetate
|
1,170
|
At 20 °C
|
| Plastics
|
1,175
|
Approx. for PP, PETE and PVC
|
| Neon (liquid)
|
1,207
|
At boiling point
|
| Nitrogen (gas)
|
1,251
|
At 0 °C and 101.325 kPa)
|
| Glycerol
|
1,261
|
Standard conditions
|
| Urea
|
1,320
|
|
| Hydrazine sulfate
|
1,378
|
[2]
|
| Corn syrup
|
1,380
|
|
| Argon (liquid)
|
1,395.4
|
At boiling point
|
| Pentaerythritol
|
1,396
|
|
| Honey
|
1,420
|
|
| Dinitrogen tetroxide
|
1,445
|
At 20 °C
|
| Hydrogen peroxide
|
1,450
|
Pure, at 20 °C
|
| Erythritol
|
1,450
|
|
| Rubidium (liquid)
|
1,460
|
At melting point
|
| Sodium sulfate (decahydrate)
|
1,464
|
|
| Sodium metabisulfite
|
1,480
|
|
| Fuming nitric acid
|
1,500
|
|
| Fluorine (liquid)
|
1,505
|
At boiling point
|
| Rubidium
|
1,532
|
At room temperature
|
| Sucrose
|
1,550
|
|
| Calcium
|
1,550
|
|
| Chlorine (liquid)
|
1,562.5
|
At boiling point
|
| Monosodium glutamate
|
1,620
|
At 20 °C
|
| Tetrachloroethylene
|
1,622
|
Standard conditions
|
| Oxalic acid (dihydrate)
|
1,653
|
|
| Magnesium
|
1,740
|
|
| Picric acid
|
1,763
|
|
| White phosphorus
|
1,823
|
|
| Concentrated sulfuric acid
|
1,830
|
|
| Cesium (liquid)
|
1,843
|
At melting point
|
| Sodium azide
|
1,846
|
At 20 °C
|
| Beryllium
|
1,850
|
|
| Francium
|
1,870
|
Predicted, at room temperature
|
| Oxalic acid (anhydrous)
|
1,900
|
|
| Bone
|
1,900
|
Average human bone
|
| Sulfur (gamma)
|
1,920
|
|
| Cesium
|
1,930
|
At room temperature
|
| Sulfur (beta)
|
1,960
|
|
| Oleum (60%)
|
2,000
|
|
| Sulfur (alfa)
|
2,070
|
|
| Sodium chloride
|
2,165
|
|
| Sodium bicarbonate
|
2,200
|
|
| Borosilicate glass
|
2,230
|
Average value
|
| Graphite
|
2,266
|
|
| Potassium chlorate
|
2,320
|
|
| Silicon
|
2,330
|
|
| Potassium metabisulfite
|
2,340
|
|
| Red phosphorus
|
2,340
|
|
| Boron
|
2,340
|
|
| Violet phosphorus
|
2,360
|
|
| Strontium (liquid)
|
2,375
|
At melting point
|
| Phosphorus pentoxide
|
2,390
|
|
| Concrete
|
2,400
|
|
| Krypton (liquid)
|
2,413
|
At boiling point
|
| Boron trioxide (liquid)
|
2,460
|
At melting point
|
| Potassium perchlorate
|
2,523.9
|
|
| Boron trioxide (trigonal)
|
2,550
|
|
| Quartz
|
2,600
|
|
| Strontium
|
2,640
|
At room temperature
|
| Sodium sulfate (anhydrous)
|
2,664
|
|
| Black phosphorus
|
2,690
|
|
| Aluminium
|
2,700
|
|
| Scandium (liquid)
|
2,800
|
At melting point
|
| Xenon (liquid)
|
2,942
|
At boiling point
|
| Scandium
|
2,985
|
At room temperature
|
| Bromine
|
3,102.8
|
Standard conditions
|
| Boron trioxide (monoclinic)
|
3,146
|
|
| Diiodomethane
|
3,325
|
|
| Barium (liquid)
|
3,338
|
At melting point
|
| Diamond
|
3,510
|
|
| Barium
|
3,530
|
At room temperature
|
| Titanium dioxide
|
3,780
|
Anatase form
|
| Iodoform
|
4,008
|
|
| Titanium dioxide
|
4,180
|
Brookite
|
| Titanium dioxide
|
4,230
|
Rutile form
|
| Yttrium (liquid)
|
4,240
|
At melting point
|
| Carbon tetraiodide
|
4,320
|
|
| Radon (liquid)
|
4,400
|
At boiling point
|
| Yttrium
|
4,472
|
|
| Caesium iodide
|
4,510
|
|
| Titanium
|
4,540
|
|
| Tungsten hexafluoride (solid)
|
4,560
|
At −9 °C
|
| Selenium
|
4,800
|
|
| Barium iodide (dihydrate)
|
4,916
|
|
| Iodine
|
4,933
|
|
| Barium iodide (anhydrous)
|
5,150
|
|
| Germanium
|
5,323
|
|
| Radium
|
5,500
|
At room temperature
|
| Arsenic
|
5,727
|
|
| Bismuth(III) iodide
|
5,778
|
|
| Zirconium (liquid)
|
5,800
|
At melting point
|
| Gallium
|
5,910
|
At room temperature
|
| Lanthanum (liquid)
|
5,940
|
At melting point
|
| Copper(I) oxide
|
6,000
|
|
| Gallium (liquid)
|
6,095
|
At melting point
|
| Vanadium
|
6,100
|
|
| Lead(II) iodide
|
6,160
|
|
| Lanthanum
|
6,162
|
At room temperature
|
| Ytterbium (liquid)
|
6,210
|
At room temperature
|
| Tellurium
|
6,240
|
|
| Copper(II) oxide
|
6,310
|
|
| Astatine
|
6,350
|
Predicted, at room temperature
|
| Praseodymium (liquid)
|
6,500
|
At melting point
|
| Zirconium
|
6,520
|
|
| Cerium (liquid)
|
6,550
|
At melting point
|
| Antimony
|
6,690
|
|
| Cerium
|
6,770
|
At room temperature
|
| Praseodymium
|
6,770
|
At room temperature
|
| Neodymium (liquid)
|
6,890
|
At melting point
|
| Ytterbium
|
6,900
|
At room temperature
|
| Zinc
|
7,000
|
|
| Neodymium
|
7,010
|
At room temperature
|
| Indium (liquid)
|
7,020
|
At melting point
|
| Europium (liquid)
|
7,130
|
At melting point
|
| Samarium (liquid)
|
7,160
|
At melting point
|
| Chromium
|
7,200
|
|
| Promethium
|
7,260
|
At room temperature
|
| Europium
|
7,264
|
At room temperature
|
| Indium
|
7,310
|
At room temperature
|
| Tin
|
7,310
|
|
| Manganese
|
7,325
|
|
| Gadolinium (liquid)
|
7,900
|
At melting point
|
| Samarium
|
7,520
|
At room temperature
|
| Terbium (liquid)
|
7,650
|
At melting point
|
| Iron
|
7,780
|
|
| Gadolinium
|
7,900
|
At room temperature
|
| Terbium
|
8,230
|
At room temperature
|
| Holmium (liquid)
|
8,340
|
At melting point
|
| Dysprosium (liquid)
|
8,370
|
At melting point
|
| Dysprosium
|
8,540
|
At room temperature
|
| Thulium (liquid)
|
8,560
|
At melting point
|
| Niobium
|
8,570
|
|
| Brass
|
8,600
|
|
| Cadmium
|
8,650
|
|
| Holmium
|
8,790
|
At room temperature
|
| Einsteinium
|
8,840
|
At room temperature
|
| Erbium (liquid)
|
8,860
|
At melting point
|
| Bismuth trioxide
|
8,900
|
|
| Cobalt
|
8,900
|
|
| Nickel
|
8,900
|
|
| Copper
|
8,940
|
|
| Erbium
|
9,066
|
At room temperature
|
| Polonium (alpha)
|
9,196
|
|
| Lutetium (liquid)
|
9,300
|
At melting point
|
| Thulium
|
9,320
|
At room temperature
|
| Polonium (beta)
|
9,398
|
|
| Bismuth
|
9,750
|
|
| Lutetium
|
9,841
|
At room temperature
|
| Actinium
|
10,000
|
At room temperature
|
| Molybdenum
|
10,220
|
|
| Silver
|
10,500
|
|
| Technertium
|
11,000
|
|
| Thallium (liquid)
|
11,220
|
At melting point
|
| Lead
|
11,340
|
|
| Thorium
|
11,700
|
|
| Thallium
|
11,850
|
At room temperature
|
| Hafnium (liquid)
|
12,000
|
At melting point
|
| Americium
|
12,000
|
At room temperature
|
| Palladium
|
12,023
|
|
| Rhodium
|
12,410
|
|
| Ruthenium
|
12,450
|
|
| Berkelium (beta)
|
13,250
|
At room temperature
|
| Hafnium
|
13,310
|
At room temperature
|
| Curium
|
13,510
|
At room temperature
|
| Mercury
|
13,546
|
|
| Berkelium (alpha)
|
14,780
|
At room temperature
|
| Californium
|
15,100
|
At room temperature
|
| Protactinium
|
15,370
|
At room temperature
|
| Tantalum
|
16,600
|
|
| Neptunium (gamma)
|
18,000
|
At 639 °C
|
| Uranium
|
18,900
|
|
| Tungsten
|
19,250
|
|
| Gold
|
19,320
|
|
| Neptunium (beta)
|
19,360
|
At 313 °C
|
| Plutonium
|
19,840
|
|
| Neptunium (alpha)
|
20,450
|
At 282 °C
|
| Rhenium
|
21,020
|
|
| Platinum
|
21,450
|
|
| Iridium
|
22,420
|
|
| Osmium
|
22,570
|
|
| Rutherfordium
|
23,200
|
Predicted, at room temperature
|
| Copernicium
|
23,700
|
Predicted, at room temperature
|
| Roentgenium
|
28,700
|
Predicted, at room temperature
|
| Dubnium
|
29,300
|
Predicted, at room temperature
|
| Darmstadtum
|
34,800
|
Predicted, at room temperature
|
| Seaborgium
|
35,000
|
Predicted, at room temperature
|
| Bohrium
|
37,100
|
Predicted, at room temperature
|
| Meitnerium
|
37,400
|
Predicted, at room temperature
|
| Hassium
|
40,700
|
Predicted, at room temperature
|
Density of materials at different temperatures
Air
| Temperature (°C)
|
Density (kg/m3)
|
| +727
|
0.340
|
| +227
|
0.696
|
| +35
|
1.146
|
| +30
|
1.164
|
| +27
|
1.161
|
| +25
|
1.184
|
| +20
|
1.204
|
| +15
|
1.225
|
| +10
|
1.247
|
| +5
|
1.269
|
| 0
|
1.293
|
| -5
|
1.316
|
| -10
|
1.342
|
| -15
|
1.368
|
| -20
|
1.395
|
| -25
|
1.423
|
| -73
|
1.746
|
| -173
|
3.556
|
Ammonium acetate
| Temperature (°C)
|
Density (kg/m3)
|
| +25 °C
|
1,073
|
| +20 °C
|
1,170
|
Hydrazine
| Temperature (°C)
|
Density (kg/m3)
|
| +50
|
982
|
| +25
|
1,004
|
| +20
|
1,008.5
|
| +15
|
1,014
|
| 0
|
1,021
|
Ice
| Temperature (°C)
|
Density (kg/m3)
|
| 0
|
916
|
| -50
|
922
|
| -100
|
927
|
NaK
| Temperature (°C)
|
Density (kg/m3)
|
| +100
|
855
|
| +21
|
866
|
Naphthalene
| Temperature (°C)
|
Density (kg/m3)
|
| +100
|
962.5
|
| +20
|
1,025.3
|
| +15.5
|
1,145
|
Water
| Temperature (°C)
|
Density (kg/m3)
|
| +100
|
958.4
|
| +80
|
971.8
|
| +60
|
983.2
|
| +50
|
988.03
|
| +40
|
992.2
|
| +30
|
995.6502
|
| +25
|
997.0479
|
| +22
|
997.7735
|
| +20
|
998.2071
|
| +15
|
999.1026
|
| +10
|
999.7026
|
| +4
|
999.9720
|
| 0
|
999.8395
|
| -10
|
998.117
|
| -20
|
993.547
|
| -30
|
983.854
|
The values below 0 °C refer to supercooled water.
References
- ↑ Lide, D. R., ed. (2005). CRC Handbook of Chemistry and Physics (86th ed.). Boca Raton (FL)
- ↑ O'Neil, M.J. (ed.). The Merck Index - An Encyclopedia of Chemicals, Drugs, and Biologicals. 13th Edition, Whitehouse Station, NJ: Merck and Co., Inc., 2001., p. 852
