Density Calculator
Enter two of mass, volume and density. For densities, the closest-matching elements are shown, handy for identifying a metal sample.
Densities of the elements (solids and liquids)
Density in practice
Density identifies materials because it is an intensive property: a gold ring and a gold bar have the same density, 19.3 g/cm³. Anything denser than water (1.00 g/cm³ at 4 °C) sinks in it; lithium, sodium and potassium float.
For gases, density depends strongly on pressure and temperature; use ρ = PM ÷ RT with the ideal gas law calculator.
Questions students ask
What is the density formula?
Density ρ = mass ÷ volume. Rearranged, mass = density × volume and volume = mass ÷ density.
What are the units of density?
g/cm³ (equal to g/mL) for solids and liquids, g/L for gases, and kg/m³ in SI. 1 g/cm³ = 1000 kg/m³ = 1000 g/L.
What is the densest element?
Osmium, at about 22.59 g/cm³, just ahead of iridium (22.56 g/cm³). The least dense solid element is lithium at 0.534 g/cm³.
How do I find the volume of an irregular object?
By water displacement: note the water level in a measuring cylinder, lower the object in, and read the rise. The rise in mL is the volume in cm³ (Archimedes’ method).