The meniscus of mercury in a glass tube is convex because
Correct answer: C. cohesive forces between mercury atoms exceed the adhesive forces to glass
- A. mercury is a metal
- B. mercury evaporates rapidly
- C. cohesive forces between mercury atoms exceed the adhesive forces to glass
- D. glass is polar and mercury is non polar
Explanation
Mercury atoms are held to each other by strong metallic bonding far more strongly than they are attracted to the glass, so the liquid pulls away from the walls and the surface bulges upwards. Water shows a concave meniscus for the opposite reason. When reading a burette or a thermometer the eye must be level with the bottom of a concave meniscus and the top of a convex one.
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About Properties of Liquids
Liquid behavior depends on intermolecular forces, which produce surface tension, viscosity, capillary action and a definite volume without a fixed shape. The topic also covers vapor pressure, evaporation, boiling point and the effect of temperature and external pressure, while distinguishing evaporation at the surface from boiling throughout the liquid.
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