in order to find the density of your unknown metal, you used the displacement method. Suppose several air bubbles had been attached to the metal when it was in the graduated cylinder. Which measurement would be wrong-- mass or volume?

Question

anonymous · Answer

its weird put out of context like that but that would be volume, because you dont use the displacement method for mass usually (especially without knowing the density) and a graduated cylinder only measures volume.

anonymous · Answer

Mass would be wrong, because some of the metal would be reacting with the water and the metal would be losing ions to the solution. I think.

anonymous · Answer

Both answers above have a point.

Air bubbles add volume (and negligible mass) to the metal. However, it is not mentioned what metal is used, so reaction may take place if it is a reactive metal.