can i find out if alcohol floats
2007-01-15 23:10:56 · 5 answers · asked by mageratorlongor 1 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Chemistry
If you are talking about edible alcohol, there are two answers.
Obviously you can't find out by pouring alcohol onto water, because the two liquids mix immediately. This means alcohol cannot float on water if applied directly.
You can find out by filling alcohol into a plastic bag (without air bubbles inside),and letting that float. In order to exclude that it is the buoyancy of the plastic bag, fill another plastic bag with water (again without air bubbles inside) and place it alongside.
Since ethanol has a lower density than water, the plastic bag containing ethanol ought to float (barely). The comparison bag ought to sink, or at least float deeper.
(Both bags ought to be closed...)
2007-01-15 23:36:19 · answer #1 · answered by jorganos 6 · 3⤊ 0⤋
alcohol is less dense than water but the two substances are completely miscible with each other so it would not float.
2007-01-16 07:27:28 · answer #2 · answered by xox_bass_player_xox 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
alcohol is soluable in water so you're going to have to put it in something like polyethylene to see it float.
2007-01-16 07:19:30 · answer #3 · answered by Ricky J. 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
yes alcohol can float on water because it is less dense.
2007-01-16 07:14:57 · answer #4 · answered by tyder21 4 · 0⤊ 2⤋
Sure, so long as you find another liquid which is denser and with which it is immiscible. Shouldn't be too hard.
2007-01-16 07:44:42 · answer #5 · answered by gebobs 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋