Chemical waste is often shipped in 55-gallon drums. What is the weight in pounds of a 55-gallon drum if the density of the waste is 1.5942 g/cm³? (454 g = 1 pound; 0.9463 L = 1 quart; 4 quarts = 1 gallon)

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

First, convert the volume of the drum from gallons to liters (55 gallons × 4 quarts/gallon × 0.9463 L/quart = 208.2 L). Then, convert liters to cubic centimeters (1 L = 1000 cm³, so 208.2 L = 208200 cm³). Using the density (1.5942 g/cm³), the mass of the waste is 208200 cm³ × 1.5942 g/cm³ = 331,940.84 g. Finally, convert the mass to pounds (331,940.84 g ÷ 454 g/pound ≈ 731 lbs).

Chemical Waste Is Often Shipped in 55-Gallon Drums