Mass of Graduated Cylinder with 10 mL Water: How to Measure

If you place a 10 mL graduated cylinder on a scale and add exactly 10 mL of distilled water, the total mass is the mass of the empty cylinder plus roughly 10 grams. Water has a density of about 1 g/mL at room temperature. To get an accurate measurement, weigh the empty cylinder first, then add the water and measure again.

How to Measure It Correctly

Start with a clean, dry graduated cylinder on a digital balance that reads to at least 0.1 g (0.01 g is better for precise lab work). Record the mass of the empty cylinder. A typical 10 mL borosilicate glass cylinder might weigh around 25–35 g, while a plastic one might be 10–15 g.

Fill the cylinder with distilled water to the 10 mL mark. Read the bottom of the meniscus at eye level to avoid parallax error. Place the filled cylinder back on the same balance and record the new mass. Subtract the empty cylinder mass from the filled mass to get the mass of the water alone. That difference should be close to 10.0 g. At 20 °C, 10 mL of water weighs about 9.98 g because water density drops slightly with temperature.

A quick worked example: an empty glass cylinder reads 28.45 g. After adding water to the 10 mL mark, the reading is 38.43 g. The mass of the water is 38.43 – 28.45 = 9.98 g. That confirms the cylinder held very close to 10 mL of water. If your scale shows a different value, check for bubbles, a dirty cylinder, or an inaccurate scale.

Common Sources of Error

Bubbles trapped at the bottom of the cylinder displace water and lower the actual volume. Tap the cylinder gently on the bench to release them. Water droplets clinging to the inside above the meniscus also cause error. After filling, touch a clean paper towel to the inside wall just above the water line to pull away excess droplets. Static electricity on plastic cylinders can cause the scale to drift. Wipe the cylinder with an anti-static cloth or wait for the reading to stabilize. Never hold the cylinder with your hand while it is on the scale. Body heat warms the glass or plastic and adds weight from your fingers. Use tweezers or wear clean gloves.

Key Takeaways

• The total mass equals the empty cylinder mass plus about 10 g of water. Always weigh the empty cylinder first.
• Read the meniscus at eye level and use distilled water to avoid dissolved solids affecting the mass.
• A digital balance with 0.01 g resolution gives the most reliable results for small volumes.
• Temperature matters: at 20 °C, 10 mL of water weighs about 9.98 g, not exactly 10.0 g.