Why does water have a concave meniscus and mercury a convex meniscus?

Why does water have a concave meniscus and mercury a convex meniscus?

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. A convex meniscus occurs when the molecules have a stronger attraction to each other than to the container, as with mercury and glass.

What is the reason behind the formation of convex meniscus?

A convex meniscus occurs when the molecules have a stronger attraction to each other (cohesion) than to the material of the container (adhesion), causing the surface of the liquid to cave downward. This may be seen between mercury and glass in barometers and thermometers.

Why is the meniscus of water concave upwards?

When water is placed in a graduated cylinder, the adhesive forces between the water and the glass are stronger than the cohesive forces between the water molecules. The strong adhesive forces between the water and the glass, pull the sides of the water upwards along the glass forming a concave shaped meniscus.

How is the meniscus of mercury different to that of water?

Mercury shows a convex meniscus (the centre is higher than the edges), because internal cohesive forces are stronger than the force between the glass wall and the metal. In contrast, water exhibits a concave meniscus, because the attraction between the wall and the water is stronger than the water’s internal cohesion.

What liquids have a concave meniscus?

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.

Does water form a concave meniscus?

Formation of a Meniscus 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. Mercury does not wet glass – the cohesive forces within the drops are stronger than the adhesive forces between the drops and glass.

What is responsible for capillary action a property of liquids?

cohesion
Capillary action occurs because water is sticky, thanks to the forces of cohesion (water molecules like to stay close together) and adhesion (water molecules are attracted and stick to other substances).

Why is the meniscus in mercury concave?

What kind of meniscus does mercury form?

convex
Water meniscus is convex, mercury menisucs is concave A concave meniscus, which is what you normally will see, occurs when the molecules of the liquid are attracted to those of the container.

Which meniscus should be read for colored liquids?

During lab experiments especially in chemistry, we are always told to take a reading at bottom of the meniscus for colourless liquids and the upper meniscus of coloured liquids.

What causes water to have a convex meniscus?

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. A convex meniscus occurs when the molecules have a stronger attraction to each other than to the container, as with mercury and glass.

How is the meniscus of water different from that of mercury?

Water meniscus is convex, mercury menisucs is concave 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.

What causes a meniscus to go up or down?

As this picture shows, 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. This occurs with water and a glass tube.

Which is true about the volume of a meniscus?

The moral of this fictional tale is that it is important to read the measurement correctly, and yes, in the picture (top right) the true volume in the graduated cylinder is at the bottom of the water level—21.7 milliliters, not 21.9. As you can see here, a water meniscus is concave and a mercury meniscus is convex.