How Do You Measure the Density and Sugar Content of 7-Up?

[i_love_science]

Homework Statement

You have been given a sample of 7-Up® that has been allowed to stand open. You also have been provided with some table sugar (sucrose), distilled or deionized water, some measuring devices, and a variety of containers. Devise an experiment to determine the percent by mass of sugar in a sample of 7-Up.

Relevant Equations

molar mass of sucrose: 342.30 g/mol

I know I need to measure the density of 7-Up. I can measure its volume, but I don't know how to find its mass.
I also need to determine the composition of sugar in water, and compare 7-Up solution to the known sugar/water mixtures -- I don't know how to do these. Thanks.

 

[hutchphd]

Think of some industries where it is important to measure the sugar content of aqueous solutions. How do they do it?

 

[Borek]

Note: density doesn't depend on the presence of sugar only, so while estimating sugar content from density is better than nothing, it is far from being accurate. All other dissolved substances interfere.

 

[chemisttree]

Note: density doesn't depend on the presence of sugar only, so while estimating sugar content from density is better than nothing, it is far from being accurate. All other dissolved substances interfere.

Same goes for refractometry, right? I’ll bet the assumption is made that the flavoring and other additives are present at such low levels that ignoring them doesn’t introduce huge errors.

 

[chemisttree]

Homework Statement:: You have been given a sample of 7-Up® that has been allowed to stand open. You also have been provided with some table sugar (sucrose), distilled or deionized water, some measuring devices, and a variety of containers. Devise an experiment to determine the percent by mass of sugar in a sample of 7-Up.
Relevant Equations:: molar mass of sucrose: 342.30 g/mol

I know I need to measure the density of 7-Up. I can measure its volume, but I don't know how to find its mass.
I also need to determine the composition of sugar in water, and compare 7-Up solution to the known sugar/water mixtures -- I don't know how to do these. Thanks.

You can’t think of how you might measure the mass of a given volume of a liquid?
For the sugar/water measurements, this might be considered a set of standards you will use to estimate the sugar/7Up concentration.

 

[hutchphd]

Soda pop has a lot of sugar. I think by several orders of magnitude more than any thing else. So @Borek comments are certainly true but probably not determinative.

 

[i_love_science]

You can’t think of how you might measure the mass of a given volume of a liquid?
For the sugar/water measurements, this might be considered a set of standards you will use to estimate the sugar/7Up concentration.

Yeah, I can just use an electronic balance. But how do I determine the composition of sugar in water?

 

[Vanadium 50]

I don't think I would do any of these things.

Why do you think they provided you with more sugar?

 

[256bits]

They could have maybe said the measuring device is a yardstick and not a mass balance.

 

[hmmm27]

They could have maybe said the measuring device is a yardstick and not a mass balance.

Fortunately, for the companies which sell low-quality "electronic balances", you aren't in charge of school supplies.

 

[Vanadium 50]

, so while estimating sugar content from density is better than nothing, it is far from being accurate

I can think of a way to do this to arbitrary precision. I think you can too. But I don't think that's the answer they are looking for. (Nor is it the simplest, nor what it is I am trying to point the OP towards)

 

[chemisttree]

Yeah, I can just use an electronic balance. But how do I determine the composition of sugar in water?

Generate a series of sugar water solutions of known composition. Plot density vs sugar concentration. Any help?

 

[256bits]

Fortunately, for the companies which sell low-quality "electronic balances", you aren't in charge of school supplies.

What did they ever do before electronic displays...

 

[Vanadium 50]

Well, it appears that having got an answer, the OP has wandered off.

 

[berkeman]

Well, it appears that having got an answer, the OP has wandered off.

Yeah, it looks to be a habit of this poster. I just deleted another similar post (misplaced schoolwork with no effort shown). Hopefully the infraction that he got for that thread start will be a wake-up call.

Now deleted:

Ti, V, Cr, Mn, Fe, Co, Au, and Hg have multiple oxidation states, but which oxidation state for each element is most common?

Thanks.

This thread here is now closed. Thanks folks for trying to help the OP.