Analyzing Alcohol Density as a Predictor of ABV

The Relationship Between Alcohol Density and ABV

By [Student’s Name]

Course Code and Name

Professor’s Name

University

City and State

Abstract

Commercial producers of alcoholic beverages use several methods to measure the amount of alcohol by volume (ABV) that can be found in their products. Because the density of ethanol and water are both known, this study attempted to determine whether density could be used to approximate ABV. A series of ethanol/water solutions were prepared and weighed to create a density curve, and several commercial available liquors in varying proofs were sampled for density. Overall, the density curve created by the series was a good predictor of ABV, with the curve over predicting the whiskey, rum, and grain alcohol samples by 1.2%, 1.7%, and 1.8%, respectively. The likely cause for this small difference was likely ingredients that were added to the alcohol for flavor and which changed the density…