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due to surface tension

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Why do we use the lower meniscus to read the clear liquid and upper meniscus to read the colored liquid?

If the colored liquid is opaque (you can't see through it) you can't see the bottom of the meniscus. If the liquid is like mercury, you can't see through it but it doesn't make any difference because the meniscus is reverse from that of water. You read the top.


Would a graduated cylinder be read at the middle of a meniscus?

The answer depends on the liquid, or more specifically, how the surface tension in the liquid affects the meniscus. It should be the top of the meniscus for liquids such as mercury but the bottom for liquids such as water or alcohol.


What is it called when in the middle of the thermometer it curves when you measure water?

This is called the meniscus. It occurs because of surface tension between the liquid and the walls of the thermometer. When measuring water, you should read the temperature at the bottom of the meniscus for an accurate measurement.


When reading a graduated cylinder you look at?

When you read a scale on the side of a container with a meniscus, such as a graduated cylinder or volumetric flask, it's important that the measurement accounts for the ... For mercury, take the measurement from the top of the meniscus. ...


Why is water or alcohol or acid have a lower meniscus while mercury have an upper meniscus?

Surface tension will attract the water solution to the molecules of the container thus lifting it up on the edges. Mercury, being much more dense has no such attraction because it is a liquid metal.Answer:It is due to what is called cohesion and adhesion. The water molecules are attracted to each other through cohesion, which is the attraction between similar particles (by polarity). Adhesion is attraction between unlike molecules. When water is placed in a glass container, the forces of adhesion overcome the forces of cohesion, and the water climbs up the glass. Conversely, the attraction between mercury atoms (cohesion) is stronger than its attraction to the glass (adhesion). Therefore, the atoms pull together and away from the glass.

Related Questions

What liquid's meniscus curve up?

Water's meniscus curves up. Mercury's meniscus curves down.


When water is in a container the surface of the water is curved this curve is called?

The meniscus - the upward curve of a liquid in a narrow vessel.Read more: When_water_is_ina_container_the_surface_of_the_water_is_curved_this_curve_is_called


What is a substance whose meniscus would curve downward?

Mercury's meniscus curves down. Water's meniscus curves up.


Which element forms a reverse meniscus?

Mercury is an element that forms a reverse meniscus. This is because the cohesive forces between mercury molecules are stronger than the adhesive forces between mercury and the container, causing it to pull away from the container edges and form a concave meniscus.


How is a meniscus used in measuring?

As the diameter of the container decreases, the meniscus becomes more pronounced. The meniscus may be convex (curving upward) or concave (curving downward). Most of the time you will find that the meniscus is concave. The most notable exception is the meniscus that forms from mercury. When taking measurement readings it is important that the reading is done properly. The following rules must be adhered to: I. Read the meniscus at eye level. Do not read the meniscus from above or below eye level. Significant measurement errors may occur II. Read the bottom of a concave meniscus and the top of a convex meniscus.


Why does the mercury curve upwards when put inside the graduated cylinder?

A graduated cylinder consists of glass. Glass is a highly polar substance. Mercury is nonpolar and has no significant attraction to glass, but mercury atoms are attracted to one another by metallic bonding. Therefore, mercury will form an upward-curving meniscus in a glass buret.


Why is mercury curved upward?

The meniscus (plural: menisci, from the Greek for "crescent") is the curve in the upper surface of a liquid to the surface of the container or another object. It can be either convex or concave. A convex meniscus occurs when the molecules have a stronger attraction to each other (cohesion) than to the material of the container (adhesion). This may be seen between mercury and glass in barometers and thermometers. Conversely, a concave meniscus occurs when the molecules of the liquid attract those of the container's, causing the surface of the liquid to cave downwards. This can be seen in a glass of water. One can over-fill a glass with mercury and produce a convex meniscus that rises above the top of the glass, due to the vacuum created with the airtight substance.


What is the curve at a liquid surface?

The meniscus, which is creaded by adhesion of the liquid particles to the surface of the container. Water meniscus domes upwards - the water has greater bonding to its own molecules; Mercury meniscus domes downwards.


Why does mercury have convex meniscus?

Mercury has a convex meniscus because the intermolecular forces between mercury atoms are stronger than those between mercury atoms and glass molecules of a tube. The outermost mercury atoms are attracted to central mercury atoms and go towards the center of the tube. This force of attraction is slightly stronger than the force of gravity on the uppermost mercury molecules, so the meniscus is slightly elevated to a peak and is convex.


Does meniscus always concave?

Do you mean is a meniscus always concave? If so, then no. For example, the meniscus of mercury is convex.


Why does meniscus of mercury curve in opposite directions?

The meniscus of mercury curves in opposite directions depending on the container it is in due to the difference in adhesive and cohesive forces. In a glass container, adhesive forces dominate causing a concave meniscus, while in a steel container, cohesive forces dominate causing a convex meniscus. The direction of the curvature is determined by the balance of these forces.


Every thing about Mercury?

Mercury is a poisonous liquid with a shiny surface and a convex meniscus, especially at room temperature.