Experiment # 5

Surface Tension: Capillary Rise Method

De Leon, Kiara Justine C.*, Medrano, Jeffrey B., Merelos, Samantha B., Ong, Pedro Paolo N.

3-Chem, Department of Chemistry

College of Science, University of Santo Tomas

Abstract

The vapor density and the surface tension of 2-propanol was determined using Capillary Rise Method. 2-
propanol was run in a Capillary tube for three trials. Data recorded for each trial was then used to
calculate the density giving a value 1.476, 1.468, 1.457, 1.447, 1.408 and 1.275. The calculated
vapor densities were then used to calculate for the surface tension of each trial. The values
obtained for the surface tension were 56.54, 65.24, 73.94, 78.23 and 82.64. Possible sources of
error were obtained from the experiment.

1. Introduction

There are several methods of surface tension measurements. Capillary rise method is the
oldest method used for surface tension determination. A consequence of the surface tension
appearance at the liquid/gas interface is moving up of the liquid into a thin tube that is capillary,
which is usually made of glass. This phenomenon was applied for determination of the liquid
surface tension. For this purpose, a thin circular capillary is dipped into the tested liquid. If the
interaction forces of the liquid with the capillary walls (adhesion) are stronger than those
between the liquid molecules (cohesion), the liquid wets the walls and rises in the capillary to a
defined level and the meniscus is hemispherically concave.

In the opposite situation the forces cause decrease of the liquid level in the capillary
below that in the chamber and the meniscus is semispherically convex. Both cases are illustrated
in Figure 1

Figure 1. Schematic Representation of the Capillary Rise Method

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 If the cross-section area of the capillary is circular and its radius is sufficiently small, then
the meniscus is semispherical. Along the perimeter of the meniscus there acts a force due to the
surface tension presence.

f 1=2 πrγcosθ

If the liquid completely wets the capillary walls the contact angle θ = 0o, and cosθ = 1. In
such a case the surface tension can be determined from Equation 2.

rhdg
γ=
2

If the liquid does not wet the walls (e.g. mercury in a glass capillary), then it can be
assumed that θ = 180 o, and cosθ = -1. As the meniscus is lowered by the distance -h, Equation 2
gives a correct result.

Equation 2 can be also derived using the Young-Laplace equation, from which it results
that there exists the pressure difference across a curved surface, which is called capillary pressure
and this is illustrated in Figure 2. On the concave side of the meniscus the pressure is p1. The
mechanical equilibrium is attained when the pressure values are the same in the capillary and
over the flat surface. In the case of wetting liquid, the pressure in the capillary is lower than
outside it, (p2 < p1). Therefore the meniscus is shifted to a height h when the pressure difference
∆p = p2 - p1 is balanced by the hydrostatic pressure caused by the liquid raised in the capillary.
[1]

Figure 2. The balanced pressures on both sides of the meniscus

The objectives of this experiment are to measure the surface tension of aqueous solutions
of an alcohol and determine the effect of composition of this property.

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 2. Experimental
A. Measurement of Capillary Rise

Clean rubber tubing was attached to one end of a capillary tube. With the aid of an
aspirator bulb, the capillary was flushed thoroughly with distilled water and then with ethanol.
The capillary was dried with warm air. The capillary was immersed in the liquid sample. The
scale was secured so that the zero-mark coincides with the surface of the liquid. With the aid of
an aspirator bulb, the liquid was flushed out from the capillary, and then the liquid was allowed
to rise into the tube and was equilibrated. The height it has risen above the surface of the liquid
was recorded. Three determinations were made. Using the aspirator bulb, the liquid was sucked
into the capillary tube, taking care not to let it reach the bulb. Then, the liquid was allowed to fall
and was equilibrated. The height of the liquid column above the surface of the liquid was
recorded. Three determinations were made. Steps 1 to 4 for water, the pure alcohol and for the
aqueous solutions of the alcohol were repeated. The capillary was rinsed with ethanol or acetone
and was dried.

B. Density Measurement

The density of each of the solutions prepared in Part A using a pycnometer was
determined.

3. Results and Discussion

Three trials were made in subjecting 2-propanol to Capillary Rise Method. The
following data was observed throughout the experiment:

2 - propanol
Trial
5% (cm) 10% (cm) 20% (cm) 30% (cm) 50% (cm)

1 1.3 1.4 1.7 1.8 1.8

2 1.4 1.5 1.6 1.8 1.9

3 1.3 1.5 1.7 1.8 1.9

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 Mean 1.3 1.5 1.7 1.8 1.9
Table 1: Measurement of Capillary Rise

Several methods are available for measuring the surface tension of liquids. In this
experiment, Capillary Rise Method was used for determining the surface tension. This
methodology employs a small bore capillary which is inserted into the liquid whose surface
tension is to be determined. The height to which the liquid rises in the tube is proportional to the
surface tension.

m
d=
Using the formula V to calculate for density, the following values were computed:

Aqueous Solutions Mass (g) Density (g/mL)

5% 35.9316 1.476
10% 35.7460 1.468
20% 35.4820 1.457
30% 35.2313 1.447
50% 34.2904 1.408
pure 2-propanol 31.0524 1.275

Table 2: Density of 2-propanol at different % volume

To calculate the surface tension of each solution, the radius of the capillary was

determined by using the data obtained for pure water. At 25 ℃ , pure water has a surface

tension of 71.97 N/m. The equation for determining radius of capillary corresponds to:

2γ
r= hρg

2(71.97 N /m)
r= ( 1.3 cm ) (1 g/m3)( 9.8 m/ s2 ) = 11.3 cm

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 % volume of 2 – propanol Surface Tension (N/m)

5% 56.54

10% 65.24

20% 73.94

30% 78.23

50% 82.64

Table 3: Surface Tension of 2-propanol at different % volume

Based from the table, it can be seen that the surface tension increases as the concentration
increases. The information appeared in the table may be misdirecting and demonstrates a slight
deviation from what was would expect because alcohols decrease surface tension progressively.
But the trend shown above is that with increasing percent composition of 2-propanol, there would be
proportional increase in the surface tension. The possible sources of error could be in the preparation of
solutions. It could be the use of volumetric pipets or the use of the dram vials with no graduations.

The sources of error could be removed by preparing the solutions in volumetric glasswares. The
vessel in which the experiment was done is through a capillary setup, the planning of the setup is critical
as it should be appropriately cleaned and free from contaminants; it must be cleaned with chromic acid
until a trial run shows no sign of contaminants because it affects the surface tension of the solution by
disturbing the intermolecular forces.

4. Conclusion

The surface tension of 2-propanol at different % volume (5, 10, 20, 30 & 50) were
measured using capillary rise method. The values for the surface tensions are 56.54 N/m, 65.24
N/m, 73.94 N/m, 78.23 N/m and 82.64 N/m respectively. The effect of composition leads to an
increase in rise therefore attributes to lower surface tension which was not shown in the data
obtained by the researchers. The researchers in any case, suggest utilizing more accurate
glassware as a part of preparing the solutions so that there would be negligible error in the
experiment.

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 5. References

[1] http://zzm.umcs.lublin.pl/Wyklad/FGF-Ang/2A.F.G.F.%20Surface%20tension.pdf (retrieved

on February 21, 2016)

[2] Chang, R. & Goldsby, K. (2013). Chemistry (Eleventh Edition). New York: McGraw-Hill
Companies, Inc. pp. 475-476

[3] Blackburn, G. (2006). Surface Tension. The Royal Society of Chemistry: Cambridge

Appendix

Surface Tension γ 20
=

γ5
=
g
(
( 11.3 cm )( 1.7 cm ) 0.7855
cm
3)(9.8 m/s 2)

g
(
( 11.3 cm )( 1.3 cm ) 0.7855
cm
3 )
(9.8 m/s 2) 2

2 = 73.94 N/m

= 56.54 N/m γ 30
=

γ 10
=
g
(
( 11.3 cm )( 1.8 cm ) 0.7855
cm 3)(9.8 m/s 2)

g
(
( 11.3 cm )( 1.5 cm ) 0.7855
cm 3 )
(9.8 m/s 2) 2

2 = 78.23 N/m

= 65.24 N/m γ 50
=

g
(
( 11.3 cm )( 1.9 cm ) 0.7855
cm 3)(9.8 m/s 2)

= 86.24 N/m

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