How to Find Mass of a Liquid From Density

Review how to calculate the mass of a liquid from its volume and density. Density is mass per unit volume:

density = mass / volume

You can rewrite the equation to solve for mass:

mass = volume x density

Density of liquids usually is expressed in units of g/ml. If you know the density of a liquid and the volume of the liquid, you can calculate its mass. Similarly, if you know the mass and volume of a liquid, you can calculate its density.

Example Problem

Calculate the mass of 30.0 ml of methanol, given the density of methanol is 0.790 g/ml.

1. mass = volume x density
2. mass = 30 ml x 0.790 g/ml
3. mass = 23.7 g

In real life, you can usually look up the density of commons liquids in reference books or online. While the calculation is simple, it's important to cite answer using the correct number of significant digits. Also, pay attention to the units of your answer and make sure they agree with the other values in the calculation.