I.

Objectives
 Calculate the surface tension of some liquids.
 Learn about the effect of surface tension.
II. Theoretical framework
What is surface tension?
The surface of any liquid behaves as if there is a
tension membrane above it. This phenomenon is
known as surface tension. The surface tension of
a liquid is associated with the amount of energy
needed to increase its surface area per unit. The
interaction of the particles on the surface of the
water causes it to present itself as an elastic
surface, which prevents it from entering the
breast of the liquid. Figure 1: insect walking on
Surface tension forces tend to minimize the water
energy at the surface of the fluid causing them to
have a tendency to a spherical shape.

What are the causes of surface tension?

The surface tension is caused by the effects of the intermolecular forces that exist in
the interface. The surface tension depends on the nature of the liquid, the surrounding
medium and the temperature. Liquids whose molecules have strong intermolecular
attractive forces will have high surface
tension
This figure shows the diagram of forces
acting on the body, note that the weight is
balanced by the surface tension of the water.
The surface tension in light bodies: The
effect of membrane on the water surface
prevents a heavier object than water from
submerging.
Figure 2: forces acting.

How does temperature influence surface tension?

In general, the surface tension decreases with temperature, since the cohesion forces
decrease with increasing thermal agitation. The influence of the external environment
is due to the fact that the molecules of the medium exert attractive actions on the
molecules located on the surface of the liquid, counteracting the actions of the liquid
molecules.
The figure shows that the surface tension decreases with increasing temperature, this
it is because the cohesion forces decrease with increasing thermal agitation.

Figure 3: diagram of voltage

changes by temperature.

The surface tension of water

Since the intermolecular forces of attraction between water molecules are due to the
hydrogen bonds and these represent a high energy, the surface tension of the water is
greater than that of many other liquids. The water shows a higher surface tension value than
other common liquids at room temperature. The diagram shows a value three times higher
than the average of the other liquids.

Figure 4: tension comparison

diagram.

h = height liquid
o = liquid tension
Y = specific weight of the liquid
d = diameter of the capillary tube
Capillarity
Capillarity is the tendency of a liquid to be absorbed in a narrow tube (capillary tube). This
phenomenon is responsible for the propensity of some porous materials to absorb water.
For example, sponges, fabrics, and the floor. Note that the pores must be connected so that
the liquid can flow through the medium.
How is capillarity manifested in liquids?
When a glass capillary tube comes into contact with the surface of the water, it establishes
its contact angle with the capillary wall. The surface tension around the perimeter of the
tube produces a force with a vertical component causing the water to rise inside the tube
until the weight of the water column balances the vertical force generated by the surface
tension.
The column of the liquid in a capillary tube
rises until the vertical component of the
surface tension is balanced with the weight
of the column.

Figure 5: capillarity process

Capillary phenomena.
The fact that adhesive forces in water are greater than cohesive forces is also manifested in
the formation of a concave man (rounded down) at the end of the column. When the
cohesive forces are greater than the adhesive forces, as in the case of liquid mercury, a
convex meniscus (rounded up) is formed.
In the second case the liquid will wet the solid and
its shape in the vicinity of the container wall will be
such that the angle θ (contact angle or bond) between
the plane tangent to the liquid surface and the wall,
will be sharp ( the liquid adheres to the wall). In the
first case the liquid DOES NOT wipe the surface of
the solid and the angle θ will be obtuse (the liquid
separates from the wall).

Figure 6: capillary phenomenon

III. Equipment and materials
 5 Precipitated beakers
 5 capillary tubes
 1 Vernier
 1 rule
 Water
 Kitchen oil
 Alcohol
 Glycerin
 Petroleum
IV. Procedure
1. Fill the beaker with a liquid. (the measure you think is necessary)
2. Introduce the capillary tube into the beaker to the mark it has.
3. Wait 2 minutes while the liquid rises inside the tube.
4. Remove the capillary tube by covering with one finger the end of the sorbet.
5. Measure with a ruler the amount of liquid h in the capillary tube.
6. Do the same with the other liquids.
7. Calculate using theoretical formulas shown.
V. Graphics

Figure 7, 8: the materials and reagents to be used and filling of reagents in P vessels.

Figure 9, 10: the tube C was introduced and then the h of the liquid was measured.
VI. Resolution
Data:
Theoretical surface tension: capillary tube diameter: 1.15 mm
Aceite de cocina:0.033 N/m
Agua:0.073 N/m
Alcohol etílico: 0.023 N/m
Glicerina: 0.059 N/m
Petróleo: 0.026 N/m

Specific weight previously found: Capillary / liquid tube height:

Agua: 9063.459 N/m3 agua: 0.01m
Aceite:8888.6448 N/m3 aceite: 0.004m
Alcohol:7744.94 N/m3 alcohol: 0.009m
Glicerina: 10565.529 N/m3 glicerina: 0.009m
Petróleo: 7848 N/m3 petróleo: 0.011m
VII. Questionary
Test n ° 1: Surface tensión
fluido σ H(m)teórica H (m) practica %e
Agua 0.028 0.01 64.28
Alcohol 0.01 0.009 10
Petróleo 0.012 0.011 8.3
Aceite 0.013 0.004 69.23
Glicerina 0.019 0.009 52.03
VIII. Conclusión
In conclusion, the surface tension is a particular property of each liquid since each
one has its own specific intermolecular forces which can vary with the temperature
to be exposed. Capillarity depends on the diameter of the tube, the greater the
diameter, the lower the height of ascent and vice versa.
IX. Bibliography
Rey P. (24 de agosto, 2010). “tensión superficial”. Recuperada en:
https://es.slideshare.net/labsjprec/2-fis-cagnoni-cavallo-motensin-superficial-
en-el-agua-y-otros-fluidossquera
Gilbert W. (10 de abril, 2019). “tensión superficial”. Recuperada en:
https://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tensi%C3%B3n_superficial
Perez J. y Merino P. (23 de marzo, 2018). “capilaridad”. Recuperada en:
https://definicion.de/capilaridad/
National University Jorge Basadre Grohmann School
of Metallurgy and Materials

 Topic: Surface tensión

 Student: Manuel Arturo Quispe Sosa
 Code: 2017-103011
 Course: Metallurgical engineering
 Teacher: ing. Javier Atencio
 School: ESME
 Delivery date: May 6, 2019