A chemist takes four samples of a substance. Each sample has a different density. What can the chemist conclude about the substance?

When a chemist has four samples of a substance, each with a different density, several conclusions can be drawn regarding the nature of the substance:

1. Purity of the Samples: The differing densities suggest that the samples may not be pure. If the substance were pure, we would expect each sample to have the same density. Differences in density could indicate the presence of impurities or different phases.

2. Homogeneity: The variation in density implies that the substance may not be homogeneous. A homogeneous substance will maintain consistent density throughout its composition, while heterogeneous mixtures can have varying densities due to differences in composition or structure.

3. Substance Composition: The density of a substance is a characteristic physical property. If the samples are different in density, it possibly points to variations in the composition of each sample. This could result from different materials or different concentrations of components in mixtures.

4. State of Matter: If the samples include different states (solid, liquid, gas), we would expect differing densities. This should prompt the chemist to analyze the state of each sample to understand the variations in density better.

In conclusion, the observed differences indicate that the chemist should investigate the purity, composition, and possible state of each sample for further analysis.