The Density of Stoddard Solvent

Stoddard Solvent

• Stoddard Solvent constitutes a liquid chemical used as paint thinner, dry cleaning solvent and degreaser, also found in photocopier toner, printing inks and some adhesives. Texsolve S and Varsol 1 are the registered brand names for Stoddard Solvent in the United States. A colorless, flammable liquid containing petroleum, Stoddard Solvent contains toxic elements damaging to human skin, eyes and the nervous system. The substance proves extremely harmful and sometimes fatal if swallowed and dangerous if inhaled.

Specific Gravity

• The specific gravity of a substance measures its density in relation to that of water. Water has a density of 1 on the specific gravity scale. Stoddard Solvent specific gravity hovers between 0.78 and 0.79 grams per cubic centimeter, or approximately 0.028 pounds per cubic inch at temperatures of 60 to 68 degrees Fahrenheit. Stoddard Solvent is therefore less dense than water in its liquid form. Actual measurements vary slightly, ranging from 0.7709 to 0.788 to 0.79 grams per cubic centimeter, depending on the source.

Vapor Density

• Vapor density measures the heaviness of a gaseous substance in relation to the density of air. The gaseous form of Stoddard Solvent has a density of 4.8, making it nearly five times heavier than air. Calculating vapor density entails dividing the mass of a certain number of gas molecules by the mass of the same number of air molecules. Stoddard Solvent vaporizes at a temperature range of 302 to 392 degrees Fahrenheit. Because the term derives from British science, vapor density often appears in writing as “vapour density.”

Variations

• Some variation occurs in Stoddard Solvent density. The International Programme on Chemical Safety, a venture by several European countries, lists the specific gravity of Stoddard Solvent as 0.765 to 0.795 grams per cubic centimeter and the vapor density as 4.5 to 5. Variations like this may occur because Stoddard Solvent constitutes a manufactured chemical product. Therefore, every batch of manufactured Stoddard Solvent differs slightly from every other batch. Slightly different ratios of ingredients, along with differences within the ingredients themselves, can cause such variations. Imperfect measurement systems may also lead to variations.