PHYSICS INVESTIGATORY PROJECT

Session 2023-24
Topic: Effect of Detergent on Surface
tension

Submitted to: Submitted By:

Mrs. Richa Arham, XI-A

 CERTIFICATE

This is to certify that I,Arham, a student of Mayoor School,

Noida has submitted the Physics investigatory project, titled
“Effect of Detergent on Surface tension” under the guidance
of Mrs.Richa during the Session 2023-24. The assigned project
has been completed as prescribed by the CBSE curriculum.

Examiner’s Signature Subject Teacher’s Signature School Stamp

 ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

I would like to take this opportunity to thank principal ma’am,

Mrs. Alka Awasthi for providing me with this opportunity to
perform this investigatory project.
I would also like to thank my Physics teacher, Mrs. Richa
whose continuous guidance and support have enabled me to
complete this project. At last, I would like to thank our lab
assistant for his support.
 INDEX

 Introduction
 Aim
 Apparatus Required
 Theory
 Procedure
 Observations
 Conclusions
 Bibliography
 INTRODUCTION
The surface tension is determined by what molecules are present
in the one or so layers of molecules at the surface of the
interface between a liquid and its vapor or air from the
atmosphere.
Molecules that are surface active or detergents have two
properties that cause them to reduce the surface tension of water.
First, there is an excess concentration of these molecules at the
interface (called the surface excess concentration) and the forces
between these molecules is smaller than, or interfere with, the
bonding between the water molecules at the surface. Therefore it
is easier (takes less energy) to "stretch" the surface of the
interface. It turns out that a lot, but not all by any means, of such
molecules have a hydrophilic polar end, and a hydrophobic end.
The polar end sticks into the water phase and the hydrophobic
end (often a hydrocarbon) sticks up into the vapor or air phase.
Within the water phase these surfactants form bodies called
micelles where the hydrophilic (water loving) heads point into
the water phase and the hydrophobic tails are on the "inside" of
these microscopic globules. Since these hydrocarbon ends are
more weakly bonded to one another they are easier to stretch. As
the surface is stretched and the surface density of the "tails"
decreases there are new ones below in the water phase ready to
take their place on the surface.
 AIM

To study the effect of detergent on the surface tension of water

by observing capillary rise

APPARATUS REQUIRED AND

SETTING THE APPARATUS

 Place the adjustable height stand on the table and make its
base horizontal by level-ling screws.
 Take dirt and grease free water in three 100ml beakers.
 Take three capillary tubes of radius 0.05 mm.
 Clean and dry them, clamp the capillary tubes in a metallic
plate. Also clamp a pointer after third capillary tube.
 Clamp the horizontal handle of the metallic plate in a vertical
stand, so that the capillary tubes and the pointer become
vertical.
 So adjust the height of metallic plate that the capillary tubes
dip in water in open dish.
 Adjust the position of the pointer, such that its tip just touches
the water surface.
 THEORY

A detergent when added to distilled water reduces surface

tension of water. If we use same capillary tube to study the rise
of pure distilled water and then the rise of detergent mixed water
(solution), we shall find that the rise will be less in case of
solution. If quantity of detergent (solution concentration) is
increased, rise will be still lesser.
 PROCEDURE

a) Arrangement of Apparatus
1. Take 50ml of dirt and grease free water in each beaker.
2. Dissolve approximately 1gm of a detergent in the water in
beaker B to make a dilute solution.
3. Add approximately 2gm of detergent in the water of
beaker C to have a solution with double concentration.

b) Measurement of capillary rise

4. Find the least count of the travelling microscope for the

horizontal and the vertical scale. Record the same in the
note-book.
5. Raise the microscope to a suitable height, keeping its axis
horizontal and pointed towards the capillary tubes.
6. Bring the microscope in front of first capillary tube (which
has maximum rise).
7. Make the horizontal cross wire just touch the central part
of the concave meniscus seen convex through microscope.
8. Note the reading of the position of the microscope on the
vertical scale.
9. Now move the microscope horizontally and bring it in
front of the second capillary tube.
10. Lower the microscope and repeat steps 4 and 5.
11. Find the rise of the solution in same capillary tube. The
rise will be less than that for pure water.
12. Repeat steps 4 and 5 for third capillary tube.
13. Find the rise of this concentrated solution in same
capillary tube. The rise will be still lesser.
14. Lower the stand so that pointer tip becomes visible.
15. Move the microscope horizontally and bring it in front of
the pointer.
16. Lower the microscope and make the horizontal cross wire
touch the tip of the pointer. Repeat step 9.

c) Measurement of the internal diameter of the capillary

tube

17. Place a capillary tube horizontally on the adjustable stand.

18. Focus the microscope on the end dipped in water. A white
circle (inner bore) surrounded by a green circular strip (glass
cross section) will be seen.
19. Make horizontal cross-wire touch the inner circle at A.
Note microscope reading on vertical scale.
20. Raise the microscope to make the horizontal cross-wire
touch the circle at B. Note the reading (the difference gives
the vertical internal diameter AB of the capillary tube).
21. Move the microscope on horizontal scale and make the
vertical cross wire touch the inner circle at C. Note
microscope reading on horizontal scale.
22. Move the microscope to the right to make the vertical
cross-wire touch the circle at D. Note the reading (the
difference gives the horizontal internal diameter CD of the
capillary tube).
23. Record your observations.
 OBSERVATIONS AND DATA
ANALYSIS

Beaker Volume of Amount of detergent Added to Height of water in Decrease in height

Water the Beaker the capillary tube
A 50 ml Nil 1.4 cm 0
B 50 ml 1 gm (1.09 gm) 1.2 cm 0.2
C 50 ml 2 gm (1.80 gm) 1.0 cm 0.4

As we start to add the mass the height of the liquid goes on

decreasing inside the capillary tube. It is because detergent
decreased the surface tension so that due to less surface tension
the height of the liquid inside the capillary tube goes on
decreasing.
Reason for the decrease in surface tension -
Molecules of most detergents and soaps are long chain
hydrocarbon molecules with an ionic group at one end, usually
carrying a negative charge, thus making it an anion. This charge
is balanced by the opposite charge of a soluble cation, for
example Na+. The long hydrocarbon chains do not interact well
with water molecules, and many of them are effectively
‘squeezed out’ to the interfaces between the water and the air or
the glass sides of the beaker. The effect of these molecules on
the water surface is to considerably weaken the forces between
water molecules there, thus lowering the surface tension.
In hard water there is a significant concentration of calcium,
Ca2+, and/or magnesium, Mg2+, cations. These cations form an
insoluble compound with soap anions, so instead of forming a
surface layer, they are precipitated out, leaving the surface
tension little changed.
2 /\/\/\/\/\/\/COO−(aq) + Ca2+(aq) → (/\/\/\/\/\/\/COO)2Ca(s)
However, the calcium and magnesium salts of many detergent
molecules are soluble, so detergents still lower the surface
tension of hard water.
From our experiment we observed that, the rise in capillary tube
decreases with addition of detergent in pure water. With more
addition of detergent, rise becomes lesser and lesser.

CONCLUSION

The addition of the detergent on the surface decreases the

surface tension. Due to this detergents are used for making the
soft water, washing the clothes, and as a cleansing agent.
 BIBLIOGRAPHY

[1] https://en.wikipedia.org
[2] NCERT Physics textbook
[3] https://byjus.com/physics/detergents-and-surface-tension/