To identify the substance from the given options, we need to calculate the density of the substance using the given mass and volume and then compare the calculated density with the densities provided for each substance.
Here are the given values:
- Mass (weight) of the substance: 46.9 grams
- Volume of the substance: 3.5 cm³
First, calculate the density of the substance using the formula:
[tex]\[ \text{Density} = \frac{\text{Mass}}{\text{Volume}} \][/tex]
Plugging in the given values:
[tex]\[ \text{Density} = \frac{46.9 \text{ grams}}{3.5 \text{ cm}^3} \][/tex]
[tex]\[ \text{Density} \approx 13.4 \text{ g/cm}^3 \][/tex]
Next, we'll compare this calculated density to the densities of the given substances:
- Molybdenum: 10.28 g/cm³
- Mercury: 13.53 g/cm³
- Hafnium: 13.31 g/cm³
- Lead: 11.34 g/cm³
The calculated density (13.4 g/cm³) is closest to the density of hafnium (13.31 g/cm³).
Therefore, based on the comparison of densities, the most likely identity of the substance is:
C. hafnium
