Based on data from Chemistry LibreTexts, the density of sand is 1.52 g/cm³.
Understanding Sand Density
The density of a material measures how much mass is packed into a given volume. For granular materials like sand, this value can vary slightly depending on factors such as compaction, moisture content, and the specific mineral composition of the sand grains. However, a commonly referenced value, as provided by the resource Density of Rocks and Soils from Chemistry LibreTexts, is 1.52 grams per cubic centimeter (g/cm³).
This density is often used in geological and engineering contexts when calculating the weight or volume of sand.
Sand Density Compared to Other Soil Types
The provided reference also lists the densities of other common soil types, offering a comparison point for sand.
| Soil Type | Density (g/cm³) |
|---|---|
| sand | 1.52 |
| sandy loam | 1.44 |
| loam | 1.36 |
| silt loam | 1.28 |
As shown in the table, pure sand tends to have a slightly higher density compared to loams, which contain mixtures of sand, silt, and clay particles, often with more organic matter and pore space influencing the overall density.
