If a liquid has a specific gravity of 1.4, what does that indicate?

If a liquid has a specific gravity of 1.4, what does that indicate?

• A. It is lighter than water and will float
• B. It is heavier than water and will sink
• C. It evaporates quickly
• D. It has a high boiling point

Answer: (B)

A specific gravity of 1.4 indicates that the liquid is heavier than water. Specific gravity is a dimensionless quantity that compares the density of a substance to the density of water. When the specific gravity is greater than 1, it means that the substance is denser than water, which causes it to sink when placed in water. In this case, since 1.4 is significantly above 1, it confirms that the liquid will not only sink but also has a density that is more than 40% heavier than water. This characteristic is important for various applications, including understanding how different substances will behave when mixed or in unexpected containment scenarios.

A specific gravity of 1.4 indicates that the liquid is heavier than water. Specific gravity is a dimensionless quantity that compares the density of a substance to the density of water. When the specific gravity is greater than 1, it means that the substance is denser than water, which causes it to sink when placed in water. In this case, since 1.4 is significantly above 1, it confirms that the liquid will not only sink but also has a density that is more than 40% heavier than water. This characteristic is important for various applications, including understanding how different substances will behave when mixed or in unexpected containment scenarios.