Determine the viscosity and characteristic viscosity of polyethylene.

glycol solutions in water

Full Name: Nguyen Manh Hung
Student ID: 20190849
Group: CC15
Date of submission: 27/12/2021

Abstract
Viscosity is a physical property that characterizes the internal frictional
force generated between molecules in a liquid to resist movement under the
influence of external forces. This experiment examined the influence of
concentration on the viscosity of a solution, comparing the viscosity of a pure
solvent with that of a high molecular weight solvent. The goal was to identify
the specific viscosity of the solution. Concentrations tested included 5%, 8%,
10%, 15%, 20%, and 25%. The obtained result for the specific viscosity of the
high molecular weight polyethylene glycol solution in water was 2.5. The result
closely aligns with the literature, and any discrepancies are attributed to
procedural errors during the experiment and uncertainties in reading the
instruments.
I. Introduction
Viscosity is a physical property that characterizes the internal frictional
force generated between molecules within a fluid to resist movement under the
influence of external forces. In experiments, viscosity can be determined using
various methods, such as the falling ball method and the method of studying the
flow of a solution through a capillary tube.
The measurement of the viscosity of high molecular weight solutions
plays a crucial role, enabling us to determine the molecular weight, structure,
and many other properties of these high molecular weight substances. Solutions
of high-molecular-weight substances typically exhibit significantly higher
viscosity compared to regular solutions and adhesive systems with the same
concentration. Therefore, solutions of high-molecular-weight substances used
for viscosity measurement must be very diluted. The hypothesis posits that
within a small concentration range, the reduced viscosity increases in direct
proportion to the concentration of high molecular weight substances.
II. Methodology
In this experiment the Ostwald viscometer is employed to measure the
dynamic viscosity. The Ostwald viscometer is depicted in the figure as a U-
shaped glass apparatus comprising branches 1 and 2. Branch 2 is a capillary with
a specified diameter, marked with level indicators a and b. During the
measurement, the time taken for the liquid to flow from level a to level b is
determined.

Figure 1: Ostwald Viscosity

Before conducting the measurement, it is necessary to clean the
viscometer and rinse it with distilled water. The viscometer is placed in a
temperature-stabilized container, and the water level needs to surpass level a in
branch 2. Using a pipette, draw 10 ml of the liquid into branch 1. Employ a
rubber tube connected to branch 1 to pump the liquid slowly (to avoid the
formation of bubbles in the liquid column) until the liquid rises above level a by
approximately 1 cm. At this point, the liquid should still be at the bottom of the
bulb in branch 1. Allow the liquid to flow naturally, and, using a stopwatch,
determine the time it takes for the liquid to flow from level a to level b. Repeat
this process at least three times to obtain an average value.
 To determine the viscosity of a polyethylene glycol solution in water, the
following experiment is conducted: set up a constant temperature bath at a fixed
temperature (preferably at 20 or 25°C), determine the viscosity of pure water,
and then of polyethylene glycol solutions in water with the following
concentrations:
c = 5; 8; 10; 15; 20; 25% by weight of polyethylene glycol in H₂O.
Note: Each measurement should be preceded by a waiting period of
approximately 5 minutes to ensure the entire solution stabilizes at the desired
temperature (20 or 25°C) before proceeding with the measurement.
III. Result
As shown in Figure 2, the dependence of n r/C on C follows the trend line
y = 0.1511x + 3.0015 with R2 = 0.961. From the graph, the characteristic
viscosity can be determined to be 2.5. Additional parameters are presented in
Table 1.

Figure 2. Relationship graph nr/C= f(C)

Table 1. Extra observations
Parameters Observation
 Room temperature (◦C) 17,5
Viscosity of water at experimental 1,081
temperature (mN.s/m2)
Flow time of water (s) 32,73
IV. Discusion
When allowing a liquid to flow through a capillary tube, its viscosity is
directly proportional to the flow time and density. For high-molecular-weight
solutions, the viscosity is significantly higher than that of pure solvents, and as
the solution concentration increases, the viscosity also increases.
Viscosity is temperature-dependent: as temperature rises, the viscosity of
the solution decreases due to the faster thermal motion of molecules, leading to
weaker interactions between molecules, making them more mobile in the
solution. In this experiment, we focus on the influence of concentration on
viscosity, so maintaining a stable experimental temperature is crucial.
The viscosity of the liquid is measured under the assumption that the
flowing liquid forms a laminar flow, moving at a small velocity. The subsequent
layers flow at progressively decreasing velocities. If the liquid flows too fast, it
creates turbulent flow, with liquid streams twisting into each other rather than
sliding over one another, resulting in inaccurate viscosity measurements.
Therefore, when measuring viscosity, an Ostwald viscometer with a small
capillary is used to limit the flow rate. Additionally, during the experiment, it is
essential to ensure that the solution flows relatively slowly.
V. Conclusion
Viscosity is a physical property that characterizes the internal frictional
force generated between molecules in a liquid to resist movement under the
influence of external forces. High molecular weight solutions exhibit
significantly higher viscosity compared to pure solvents, and as the solution
concentration increases, the viscosity also increases. The dependence on mass
concentration follows a first-order equation. The specific viscosity was
determined to be 2.5. The obtained result closely aligns with the literature; any
discrepancies are attributed to procedural errors during the experiment and
uncertainties in reading the instruments.
References
[1] Cao Hong Ha et.al., Thi Nghiem hoa ly [Physical chemistry laboratory
manual], (in Vietnamese). Nha xuat ban Bach Khoa Ha Noi, 2020
Appendix1. Raw and Processed Experimental Data
Volume t(s) Ղ Ղr Ղr/C
concentration (mN.s/m2)
(%)
5 39,34 1,299 0,202 4,040
8 43,66 1,442 0,334 4,175
10 47,09 1,553 0,438 4,380
15 57,60 1,902 0,754 5,060
20 70,82 2,334 1,164 5,820
25 90,58 2,992 1,768 7,072