Converting between milliliters (ml) and kilograms (kg) requires knowing the density of the substance in question. Density is the mass per unit volume of a substance. Since 1 ml is a unit of volume and 1 kg is a unit of mass, we need density to relate the two.
The density allows us to calculate the mass contained in a known volume. For example, if we know the density of a liquid is 1 g/ml, that means every 1 ml of that liquid has a mass of 1 gram.
To find the mass in kg of 250 ml, we first need to know the density in g/ml. Once we have the density, we can calculate the mass by:
- Multiplying the volume (250 ml) by the density (g/ml)
- Converting the grams calculated to kg by dividing by 1000 (since 1 kg = 1000 g)
So in summary, to find the kg of 250 ml, we need:
- The density of the substance in g/ml
- Multiply the density by the 250 ml to get grams
- Convert grams to kg
The actual mass in kg will depend on the substance and its density. In the next sections, we’ll go through some examples of converting 250 ml to kg for water, mercury, ethanol, and more.
Density of Water
Water is one of the most common substances measured by volume in ml. Water has a density of approximately 1 g/ml at room temperature (20°C or 68°F).
This means for water, every 1 ml has a mass of 1 gram.
To convert 250 ml of water to kg:
- Density of water = 1 g/ml
- 250 ml x 1 g/ml = 250 grams
- Convert grams to kg by dividing by 1000
- 250 g / 1000 = 0.25 kg
Therefore, 250 ml of water equals 0.25 kg.
Table of Water Density at Different Temperatures
| Temperature (°C) | Density (g/ml) |
|---|---|
| 0 | 0.99987 |
| 10 | 0.99970 |
| 20 | 0.99820 |
| 30 | 0.99565 |
| 40 | 0.99222 |
| 50 | 0.98804 |
| 60 | 0.98317 |
| 70 | 0.97684 |
| 80 | 0.97002 |
| 90 | 0.96267 |
| 100 | 0.95499 |
As shown in the table, water density decreases as temperature increases. So 250 ml of hot water would have a slightly lower mass than 250 ml of colder water.
Density of Mercury
Mercury is a heavy metallic liquid with a density of approximately 13.5 g/ml. This is much higher than water’s 1 g/ml density.
To find the kg of 250 ml of mercury:
- Density of mercury = 13.5 g/ml
- 250 ml x 13.5 g/ml = 3375 grams
- Convert grams to kg: 3375 g / 1000 = 3.375 kg
Therefore, 250 ml of mercury weighs approximately 3.375 kg.
Mercury’s high density means a relatively small volume has a large mass. This explains why mercury feels extremely heavy for its volume.
Density of Ethanol
Ethanol, also known as ethyl alcohol, is a type of alcohol commonly used in alcoholic beverages. It has a density of 0.789 g/ml.
To find the kg of 250 ml of ethanol:
- Density of ethanol = 0.789 g/ml
- 250 ml x 0.789 g/ml = 197.25 grams
- 197.25 g / 1000 = 0.19725 kg
So 250 ml of ethanol equals about 0.197 kg.
Density of Other Liquids
Here are some other common liquid densities and the mass of 250 ml:
| Liquid | Density (g/ml) | Mass of 250 ml (kg) |
|---|---|---|
| Olive oil | 0.91 | 0.2275 |
| Honey | 1.42 | 0.355 |
| Milk | 1.03 | 0.2575 |
| Maple syrup | 1.37 | 0.3425 |
| Rubbing alcohol (70%) | 0.87 | 0.2175 |
The density can vary between brands, purity levels, and ingredients. But these densities give a general idea of the mass of 250 ml for various household liquids.
Density of Other Substances
In addition to liquids, the density of many other substances can be used to find the kg of 250 ml. Here are some examples:
- Sodium chloride (table salt): 2.17 g/ml, so 250 ml weighs 0.5425 kg
- Granulated sugar: 1.59 g/ml, so 250 ml weighs 0.3975 kg
- All-purpose flour: 0.6 g/ml, so 250 ml weighs 0.15 kg
- Iron: 7.87 g/ml, so 250 ml weighs 1.9675 kg
The density varies widely across substances from lightweight powders to heavy metals. Depending on the substance density, 250 ml may yield anywhere from a few grams to several kilograms.
Factors Affecting Density
Some key factors that affect density include:
- Temperature – Heating causes most substances to expand, decreasing density. Cooling contracts substances, increasing density.
- Pressure – Applying high pressure compresses substances into a denser state.
- Purity – Impurities and dissolved substances lower the density compared to pure forms.
- Phase – Solid and liquid phases are denser than gaseous phases.
- Composition – Elemental density varies across the periodic table. Mixtures inherit a density between their components.
Accounting for these factors ensures the most accurate density is used when converting between volume and mass units.
Converting Any Volume to Kg
The examples above focused on 250 ml, but we can use density to convert any volume of a substance to kg.
The general method is:
- Multiply the volume by the density in g/ml to get the mass in grams
- Divide the grams by 1000 to convert to kg
For example, to find the kg of 350 ml of olive oil:
- Density of olive oil = 0.91 g/ml
- 350 ml x 0.91 g/ml = 318.5 grams
- 318.5 g / 1000 = 0.3185 kg
This calculation works for any volume unit like liters, gallons, cubic meters, etc, not just milliliters. The density unit must match the volume unit.
Converting Kg to Volume
We can also go the opposite way and calculate the volume for a given mass in kg.
The method is:
- Multiply the kg by 1000 to convert to grams
- Divide the grams by the density in g/ml to get the volume in ml
For example, to find the volume in ml for 5 kg of iron:
- Density of iron = 7.87 g/ml
- 5 kg x 1000 = 5000 grams
- 5000 g / 7.87 g/ml = 635 ml
So 5 kg of iron has a volume of 635 ml.
This calculation also works for other mass units like pounds, tonnes, ounces, etc.
Using Online Density Converters
Manually looking up densities and doing the calculations can be tedious. Many online tools exist to automate volume to mass and mass to volume conversions using a substance’s density.
Some popular options include:
- AquaCalc Volume to Weight Calculator
- Inch Calculator Volume to Weight Converter
- Omni Density Calculator
These tools allow easily converting between volume and weight units for many common substances.
Finding Density Experimentally
If needed, the density can be measured experimentally using a few simple methods:
Using a Graduated Cylinder
1. Fill a graduated cylinder with a known volume of the liquid.
2. Weigh the cylinder on a precise scale.
3. Subtract the empty cylinder weight. The remaining weight is the mass of the liquid.
4. Divide mass by volume to get density.
Using a Balance and Submerged Object
1. Select an object with a known volume submerged in the liquid.
2. Weigh the object alone first to get its weight.
3. Then weigh the object submerged in the liquid. It will appear lighter due to buoyancy.
4. The difference in weight is equal to the weight of the displaced liquid.
5. Divide this displaced weight by the object’s volume to get density.
With some simple lab equipment, these methods allow experimentally determining a liquid’s density.
When to Use Density Conversions
Some examples of when converting between volume and mass units using density is useful:
- Food recipes – Converting between volumes of liquids (e.g. cups of milk) and weights (grams of flour)
- Shipping and logistics – Determining the weight of packages from their space
- Lab chemistry – Preparing solutions of specified molar concentrations
- Medicine – Dosing syrups or tinctures using doses by volume (ml)
- Manufacturing – Checking process yields based on liquid collected volume
Any application involving relationships between the volume and mass of substances can benefit from using density as a conversion factor.
Conclusion
To summarize, converting 250 ml to kg requires:
- Finding the density of the substance in g/ml
- Multiplying the density by 250 ml to get the mass in grams
- Dividing the grams by 1000 to convert to kg
The actual kg of 250 ml varies widely depending on the substance and its density. Water is around 0.25 kg while mercury is over 3 kg. Online tools can look up densities and automatically calculate the conversions. When needed, density can also be determined experimentally. Converting between volume and mass units using density has many practical applications across science, industry, medicine, and everyday life.
