146/(136+30) = 146/166 = 0.8795
A simple series of calculations enables one to convert a Beaumé hydrometer into one showing the actual sp. g. Graduation, according to sp. g. is the most convenient for general purposes. In these instruments the distances between the divisions become less as the densities increase.
Twaddell's hydrometer is graduated in this way: Each degree Twaddell is 0.005 in excess of unity. To convert into sp. g. multiply the degrees Twaddell by 0.005, and add 1. For example: 25° Twaddell equals a sp. g. of 1.125.
25×.005 = 0.125; + 1.000 = 1.125.
There is a practice which ignores the decimal point and speaks of a sp. g. of 1125 instead of 1.125. In some cases it is convenient, and inasmuch as no substance has a real sp. g. of much over 20, it can lead to no confusion. The figures expressed in this way represent the weight of a litre in grams.
Some hydrometers are graduated so as to show at a glance the percentage composition of the liquid they are intended to be used with. Gay-Lussac designed one to show the alcoholic strength of mixtures of alcohol and water; the construction of others upon the same principle is easy and perhaps useful. But when the principle is applied to complex liquids and mixed solutions, it is misleading.
The various methods of graduation ought all to give place to one showing a simple statement of the sp. g.
The method of determining sp. g. with the hydrometer is obviously inapplicable to the case of solids, and in the case of liquids it should not be used where exact figures are required. There are several other methods which may be used, but on the whole those with the specific gravity bottle are most convenient.
The specific gravity bottle (fig. 35) is a light flask of about 25 c.c. capacity, provided with a well-fitting perforated stopper. It is essentially a graduated flask, which measures a constant volume, but it does not much matter what the volume is.