What is a measuring cylinder used to for?

Answer 1

A graduated cylinder is used to measure the volume of a liquid and occasionally a solid (it can be inverted and used to measure gas as well!) The cylinder is made of glass (usually Pyrex) or plastic and has measured lines with volume values noted on the lines (a.k.a. graduations.) Simply fill the cylinder with a liquid until it reaches the volume you require. When measuring the liquid level you will notice that electrostatic forces and gravity alter the shape of the liquid's surface to a crescent shape. This is called a "meniscus." In most cases the shape will look like a smile, you must make the measurement so the bottom portion of the smile shape is lined up with the graduation mark on the cylinder. Occasionally the meniscus will be close to flat or inverted like a frown, such is the case with liquid Mercury. In such scenarios, the uppermost portion of the frown shape should be used for accurate measurement.

To measure the volume of a small solid object of irregular shape, you can measure out a certain volume of a liquid (like water) in the cylinder, and then carefully place the solid objects in the cylinder, making sure they are completely submerged and contain no air bubbles. The water is displaced to a new reading on the graduated cylinder and the difference between the original and the final readings is the volume that the solid object occupies.

Measuring the volume of a gas is more complicated to set up and explain. In general the graduated cylinder is filled with liquid and inverted in a large container filled with water. The gas reaction evolves gas through a tube, directly under the inverted cylinder, and rises to the top (the base of the inverted cylinder). The amount of gas produced will displace the water downward as it fills the top of the cylinder and can be measured using the graduations when the gas has ceased. This will give you the volume that the gas occupies. If the gas is soluble in the liquid, some may remain dissolved and give a false-low volume reading.

Answer 2

Graduated cyllinders are used to measure volumes of liquids, powders or fine granules.

Answer 3

A graduated cylinder is used for measuring volume in terms of liquid substances.

Answer 4

liquids or chemicals.

Answer 5

volume