Ce 210 L Expt 04 Specific Gravity Of Soil

SPECIFIC GRAVITY OF SOIL Experiment No. 4 OBJECTIVE The experiment is performed to determine the specific gravity of soil by using a pycnometer. Specific gravity is the ratio of the mass of unit volume of soil at a stated temperature to the mass of the same volume of gas-free distilled water at a stated temperature. Standard reference: ASTM D 854-00 – Standard Test for Specific Gravity of Soil Solids by Water Pycnometer APPARATUS AND SUPPLIES Pycnometer Jar #10 Sieve with Pan and Cover Dropper Mortar and Pestle Spatula 2 Circular Pans Oven Balance PROCEDURE 1. Determine and record the weight of the pycnometer filled with 500 ml of water, WA. 2. Place 50g of an oven dried soil sample (passed through the No. 10 sieve) in the pycnometer. Remember to remove an amount of water to the pycnometer before placing the 50g soil sample. 3. Fill the pycnometer with distilled water to the mark, which is 500ml, clean the exterior surface of the pycnometer with a clean, dry cloth. 4. Determine the weight of the pycnometer and contents (water + soil sample), WB. 5. Empty the pycnometer and clean it. Clean the exterior surface of the pycnometer with a clean, dry cloth. 6. Compute and record the specific gravity of the soil sample. Specific Gravity of Soil

ANALYSIS

Calculate the specific gravity of the soil solids using the following formula: Specific Gravity, Gs =

Wo_______ Wo + (WA – WB)

Where: Wo = weight of oven dry sample WA = weight of pycnometer filled with water WB = weight of pycnometer + water + soil Table 4.1. Specific Gravity of Soil Sample Trial Wo, g WA, g WB, g Specific Gravity, GS Average Specific Gravity

COMPUTATIONS REMARKS REFERENCE/S

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