DEON MUNASHE KUMUKWAYA

20BBT1312

Aim: Determination of cleansing power of surfactant by surface tension method.

PRE-PREPARATION

 Clean the stalagmometer properly.

TEACHING LEARNING ACTIVITIES

 Learning about the use of stalagmometer.

 Learning about the surface tension of liquids.

APPARATUS:

Stalagmometer, specific gravity bottle, a small rubber tube with a screw pinch cork.

CHEMICALS:

Distilled water, experimental liquid.

THEORY:

The size of the drop of liquid forming on a capillary end depends upon the surface tension of
the liquid. The drop falls when the total surface tension 2 π r γ is equal to its weight.

W = mg=2 π r γ
If two liquids having surface tension γ1 and γ2 are allowed to fall through the same capillary,
the

W1 = m1g=2 π r γ1

W2 = m2g=2 π r γ1

Here m1 and m2 are the masses of the same number of drops of two liquids.one of the liquid
are water. Its surface tension is noted from the tables, thus the surface tension of the given
liquid can be calculated.

PROCEDURE:

 Clean the stalgmometer with chromic acid mixture (K2Cr2O7 + conc. H2SO4) wash with
water then with alcohol and dry it.
 Attach a small piece of rubber tube having a screw pinch cock at the upper end of the
stalgmometer.
 Immerse the lower end of the stalgmometer in distilled water and suck the water 1-2 cm
above mark A. adjust the pinch cork so that 10-15 drops fall per minute.
 Clamp the stalgmometer. And allow 10 drops of water to fall into the pre-weighed
weighing bottle.
 Weigh the weighing bottle along with 10 drops of water.
 Repeat the exercise to take 3 -4 readings.
 Rinse the stalgmometer with alcohol and dry it.
 Suck the given liquid in the stalgmometer and count the drops as in case of water.
 Take a clear and dryweighing bottle, note its weight.
 Fill the bottle with liquid and weight it. Dry the bottle and note its weight after filling with
water.
 Note the temperature of water.

OBSERVATIONS:

Room temperature = t0C

Density of water at t0C = dw (From Table) Surface tension of water = γw (From tables)

No. of drops
from a fixed Mean
volume
Liquid nl =

Water nw=

Weight of empty specific gravity bottle = w1 grams

Weight of specific gravity bottle + 10 drops of water = w2 grams Weight of specific gravity bottle
+ 10 drops of liquid = w3 grams Weight of 10 drops of water = (w2 – w1) g

Weight of 10 drops liquid = (w3 - w1) g

Surface tension of liquid,

γ1 (w3 - w1) = γw (w2 - w1)

(w3 - w1)

γ1 = --------- x------ γw

(w2 - w1)

RESULT:
The Surface tension of the given liquid is............................. dyne/ cm

PRECAUTIONS:
 Stalgmometer should be thoroughly cleaned.
 Rate of dropping should not exceed 15 drops per minute.
 The drops should be allowed to fall under their own weight and should not be pushed
out by tapping.

OUTCOMES OF THIS EXPERIMENT

 At the completion of the experiment student will be Able to apply the technique
independently.
 Able to know the surface tension of different liquids and their surface phenomenon
 Able to know about the cleansing property and action of surfactants.