Table of Contents
Why does the meniscus of water curve upwards?
When water is put in a measuring cylinder, the meniscus curves upwards. This is due to the greater adhesive force between the water molecules and the measuring cylinder than the cohesive force within the water molecules.
What causes the shape of the meniscus?
Adhesion is responsible for a meniscus and this has to do in part with water’s fairly high surface tension. And since water molecules like to stick together, when the molecules touching the glass cling to it, other water molecules cling to the molecules touching the glass, forming the meniscus.
Which way does the meniscus curve?
The meniscus of a liquid is the upward or downward curve seen at the top of a liquid in a container. The nature of curve whether upward (convex) or downward (concave) depends on the surface tension the liquid and its adhesion capacity to the wall of the container.
What determines the shape of the meniscus in liquids?
When liquid water is confined in a tube, its surface (meniscus) has a concave shape because water wets the surface and creeps up the side. When liquid mercury is confined in a tube, its surface (meniscus) has a convex shape because the cohesive forces in liquid mercury tend to draw it into a drop.
Why does the meniscus in mercury curve downward?
When mercury is put in a measuring cylinder, the meniscus curves downwards. This is due to the greater cohesive force within the mercury atoms compared to the adhesive force between the mercury atoms and measuring cylinder.
What happens if you read a meniscus above eye level?
This curve is known as a meniscus. The graduated cylinder is calibrated so that reading the bottom of the meniscus, when viewed at eye level, will give accurate results. Viewing the meniscus at any angle other than eye level will give inaccurate results.
What kind of liquid has a convex meniscus?
This occurs between water and glass. Water-based fluids like sap, honey, and milk also have a concave meniscus in glass or other wettable containers. Conversely, a convex meniscus occurs when the particles in the liquid have a stronger attraction to each other than to the material of the container.
What kind of curve is a meniscus in water?
A meniscus is a curve in the surface of a molecular substance (water, of course) when it touches another material. With water, you can think of it as when water sticks to the inside of a glass. What is a meniscus? A meniscus is a curve in the surface of a molecular substance (water, of course) when it touches another material.
What causes a concave meniscus in a glass tube?
It all depends on if the molecules of the liquid are more attracted to the outside material or to themselves. A concave meniscus, which is what you normally will see, occurs when the molecules of the liquid are attracted to those of the container. This occurs with water and a glass tube.
Why does the meniscus of mercury go up or down?
Water has an upward meniscus, mercury has a downward meniscus. A meniscus can go up or down. It all depends on if the molecules of the liquid are more attracted to the outside material or to themselves. A concave meniscus, which is what you normally will see, occurs when the molecules of the liquid are attracted to those of the container.