Experiment No.

DETERMINATION OF SURFACE TENSION OF A LIQUID BY THE

CAPILLARY RISE METHOD

I. OBJECTIVE

To determine the surface tension of sample liquids using the capillary rise method

II. THEORETICAL BACKGROUND

Because molecules at the surface of the liquids are surrounded only on one side
by molecules, intermolecular forces of attraction are unbalanced at the surface. The
resulting unbalanced force directed perpendicular to the surface and acting away from the
surface is called surface tension.

This force, measured in terms of unit length of surface, causes liquids to form
meniscuses in vessels, to rise up in capillaries (for those which wet glass; for those which
do not wet glass, the surface falls in the capillary), to form nearly spherical droplets, to
resist the formation of air bubbles, to resist penetration of the liquid surface, to float
metal foils on the surface and other such effects.

The primary method of determining surface tension relies on one of those effects:
the rise of liquids in a capillary. This is caused by the unbalanced forces minimizing the
surface area of the liquid. To achieve this, the liquid rises up in the capillary until the
forces are balanced by the weight of the liquid and the atmospheric pressure.

The method of capillary rise is based on the height to which the liquid in the
capillary will rise before the force due to surface tension is balanced by the force due to
gravity. At this point:
𝒓𝒉𝝆𝒈
ϒ= 𝟐 [1]

where: ϒ = surface tension of the liquid in dynes/cm

r = inner radius of the capillary used, cm
h = displacement of the liquid in the capillary as referred to the
outside surface, cm (rise if liquid wets glass, fall if it does
not)
ρ = density of the liquid, g/cm3
g = 981 cm/s2 (gravitational acceleration)

Because of the difficulty of measuring the inner radius of the capillary, the usual
method is to use a calibrating liquid (one whose surface tension can be computed or
determined from another source).

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 𝒉𝒙𝝆𝒙
ϒx = ϒcl [2]
𝒉𝒄𝒍𝝆𝒄𝒍

where: x = refers to the liquid sought

cl = refers to the calibrating liquid

III. A. APPARATUS AND REAGENTS

APPARATUS REAGENTS
1 large test tube Distilled water
1 glass tubing Benzene
1 thermometer Chloroform
1 rubber tubing with small glass Methanol
tube attached Unknown Liquid
1 pipetol
1 capillary tube
1 100 ml beaker
1 two-holed cork

B. SET-UP

Figure 1 Set-up for the Determination of Surface Tension of a Liquid by the Capillary
Rise Method

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IV. METHODOLOGY

A. Apparatus Set Up and Surface Tension Determination

1. Clean the test tube, capillary tube and glass tubing thoroughly with hydrochloric
acid followed by distilled water. Rinse further with the liquid to be used.
2. Assemble the apparatus as shown in Figure 1.

3. Place enough liquid in the tube so that the capillary tube is immersed but the glass
tubing is still just above the surface.
4. Using the piping system, blow into the test tube so that the liquid level in the
capillary will rise.
5. Release the pipetol, wait for the liquid to reach an equilibrium height and measure
the height using a ruler.
6. Again, with the use of pipetol, suction the air from the tube such that the liquid in
the capillary falls then release the pipetol and wait for the liquid to reach
equilibrium. Measure the height using a ruler.
7. Get the average for the two measured heights (for blowing and suctioning) and
record as one trial.
8. Make two more trials for the liquid and obtain the mean height.
9. After determining the height of water, repeat the procedures using benzene,
chloroform, methanol and unknown liquid.
10. Measure also the temperature of each liquid during the experiment.
11. Clean up and follow the laboratory guideline on handling excess liquid.

B. Computations

1. Determine the mean height (h) for each liquid from 3 trials.
2. Determine from the previous experiment, the obtained densities of each liquid
(assuming that the temperature remains the same). For water, get the density at
the temperature measured from the handbook.
3. Using water as the calibrating liquid, determine the surface tension of benzene,
chloroform, methanol and unknown liquid using equation 2.
4. Surface tension of benzene can be computed as ϒ = 31.58 – 0.137T + 0.0001T2
where T = temperature of benzene in oC. Compute for the surface tension of
water and the other test liquids using benzene as the calibrating liquid.

C. Calculations

1. Fill out the data sheet and show sample computations. Submit the filled data sheet
to your instructor.

D. Report Writing Guidelines

1. Follow the format given in report writing.

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V. REFERENCES

Ellis, Richard B. Laboratory Manual in Physical Chemistry. McGraw-Hill, c1953

Alberty, Robert. Physical Chemistry, 2nd Edition. California: John Wiley and Sons,
Inc., c1997.
Atkins, Peter. Atkin’s Physical Chemistry. 9th ed Oxford: Oxford University Press,
c2011.
Barrow, Gordon. Physical Chemistry, 6th Ed. McGraw Hill, c1996.
Daniels, Farrington. Experimental Physical Chemistry. California: BiblioBazaar,
c1970.
Davison, Albert W. Laboratory Manual in Physical Chemistry. BiblioBazaar, c2009.
Garland, Carl W. Experiments in Physical Chemistry, 8th Ed. Boston: McGraw Hill,
c2009.
Levine, Ira N. Physical Chemistry. 6th Ed. Boston: McGraw-Hill Higher Education,
c2009.
Maron, Samuel H., et al. Fundamentals of Physical Chemistry. McMillian, c1974.

VI. QUESTIONS/PROBLEMS

1. The radius of a given capillary is 0.105 mm. A liquid whose density is 0.800 g/cc
rises in this capillary to a height of 6.25 cm. Calculate the surface tension of the
liquid.
2. The surface tension of mercury at 0oC is 480.3 dynes/cm while the density is
13.595 g/cc. If it is desired to obtain a fall in height of 10.0 cm, what radius of
glass capillary tube will have to be used?

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