The density of aluminum is 2.7 g/cm3. a metal sample has a mass of 52.0 grams and a volume of 17.1 cubic centimeters. could the sample be aluminum

   

            No;  the sample could not be aluminum;
since the density of aluminum, " 2.7 g/cm³ " , is NOT close enough to the density of the sample, " 3.04 g/cm³ " .

Explanation:

Density is expressed as "mass per unit volume" ;

  in which:
     "mass, "m", is expressed in units of "g" (grams);  and:
     "Volume, "V", is expressed in units of "cm³ " (such as in this problem); or                                                   in units of "mL" ;

            {Note the exact conversion:  " 1 cm³ = 1 mL " .}. 

  The formula for density:  D = m/V ;

Given:  The density of aluminum is:  2.7 g/cm³.

Given:  A sample has a mass of 52.0 g ; and Volume of 17.1 cm³ ; could it be aluminum?

Let us divide the mass of the sample by the volume of the sample;
by using the formula:

            D = m / V ;  

     and see if the value is at, or very close to "2.7 g/cm³ ".  

If it is, then it could be aluminum.

The density for the sample:

  D = (52.0 / 17.1)   g/cm³ = 3.0409356725146199 g/cm³ ;
                                              →round to "3 significant figures" ;
                                          = 3.04 g/cm³ .

No; the sample could not be aluminum; since the density of aluminum, 
   "2.7 g/cm³ "   is NOT close enough to the density of the sample,
                        "3.04 g/cm³ " .