Complete the following hypothesis: If substances are allowed to separate according to their densities, the densest materials will settle at the bottom and the least dense will be at the top. In this experiment, I predict the order of settling from top to bottom will be:









Use a ruler to make a mark 2 centimeters from the bottom of four cups. Fill each cup to this level with one of the four liquids. (The exact amount is not important, just that the amounts are equal. )
Use a laboratory balance to determine the mass of each liquid. Record your findings.
Using the results from number 4 above, you should be able to determine which liquid actually has the highest density. Remember that density = m/V. Because each of these samples had the same volume, you can directly compare their masses to determine their relative densities. Your results may not agree with your hypothesis, but that's okay. That's what happens in most scientific work!
Now that you have a pretty good idea about the density of the fluids, it's time to start building your column. There is some technique involved.

Note: To see the separation between the solutions, it helps to hold a piece of white paper behind the graduated cylinder.

At this point you need to work fairly quickly because some of the layers may start to mix. Add the solid pieces in the order of most dense to least dense according to your hypothesis. They should sink in the column until they reach a density that matches theirs.
Record the final arrangement of fluids and items in your density column. Draw or take a digital picture for your lab book.