Experiment-04 Date : 22-2-2023
Anusha Fatima (38)
Determination of surface tension of a given liquid.
Apparatus
Stalagmometer, specific gravity bottle, a small rubber tube with a screw pinch cork, distilled water and
experimental cork.
Theory
Surface tension
Surface tension is a Surface tension is a measurement of the cohesive energy present at an interface. The molecules
of a liquid attract each other. The interactions of a molecule in the bulk of a liquid are balanced by an equal
attractive force in all directions.
Units of surface tension
The SI unit of Surface Tension is Newton per Meter or N/m. The CGS unit of surface tension is dyne/cm.
Stalagometer
A stalagmometer is a device consisting of a capillary tube with a wide, bulb-shaped middle section and a narrow
bottom that together allow a liquid to form a drop as it falls from the tube. It is used in a process known as the drop-
weight method to compare the number and weight of drops of a particular liquid to a reference liquid, such as
water. The instrument is used by chemists and physicists to measure a liquid's surface tension. Stalagmometers
also are known as stactometers and stalogometers.
Sizes of stalagmometer
The 2.5- and 5.0-milliliter stalagmometers are the most commonly used sizes. The 3.5 milliliter stalagmometer is
used to measure viscous liquids — or liquids that are thick and don't flow quickly.
Drop count method
In the drop number method, the number of drops formed by equal volumes of two liquid is counted. If m1 and m2 is
the mass of one drop of each of the liquid having densities d1 and d2 respectively. If n1 and n2 is the number of
drops formed by volume v of the two liquids, then their surface tensions are related as
¥1/¥2= (d1/d2)*(n2/n1)
One of the liquid is water its surface tension and density are known. Then the surface tension of the given liquid can
be calculated.
Stalagmometric method
The stalagmometric method is one of the most common methods used for the surface tension determination. If the
weight of each drop of the liquid is known, we can also count the number of drops which leaked out to determine
the surface tension. The drops are formed slowly at the tip of the glass capillary placed in a vertical direction.
Density
Density is mass of a unit volume of a material substance.
The formula for density is d = M/V
where d is density, M is mass, and V is volume.
Density is commonly expressed in units of grams per cubic centimetre.
Procedure
1. Clean the stalgmometer with chromic acid mix, wash with water and dry it.
2. Attach a small piece of rubber tube having a screw pinch cock at the upper end of the stalgmometer.
3. Immerse the lower end of the stalgmometer in distilled water and suck the water 1-2cm above mark A.
adjust the pinch cork so that 10-15 drops fall per minute
1. Clamp the stalgmometer allow the water drops to fall and start counting the number of drops when the
meniscus crosses the upper mark A and stop counting when the meniscus passes mark B
4. Repeat the exercise to take three to four readings
5. Rinse the stalgmometer with alcohol and dry it
6. Suck the given liquid in the stalgmometer and count the drops as in case of water
7. Take a clean dry weighing bottle weighs it with water as well as with liquid.
8. Note the temp of water taken in a beaker.
Density of water and given liquid
1. Clean the specific gravity bottle and weigh it.
2. Then fill the bottle with the water and again weigh it.
3. From formula, d=m/v we can determine the density of the water.
4. Repeat this process for the unknown liquid to calculate its density.
Calculations
Density of water
Mass of empty gravity bottle = 14.30g
Mass of gravity bottle with water = 38.23g
Mass of water = 38.23 - 14.30
= 23.93
Density of water = m/v
Density of water = 23.93/25 = 0.94 gcm-3
Density of unknown liquid
Mass of empty gravity bottle = 14.30g
Mass of gravity bottle with liquid = 37.97g
Mass of liquid = 37.97 - 14.30
= 23.67
Density of liquid = m/v
Density of liquid = 23.67/25 = 0.946 gcm-3
Surface tension
Surface tension of water at room temperature = 72dyne/cm
Number of drops of water = nw= 36.3
Number of drops of liquid = nl =46.3
Density of water = ρw = 0.95 g/ml
Density of liquid = ρl =0.946 g/ml
Surface tension = nw ρl /nl ρw × σw
Observations
Liquid sample Number of drops Average no of Density Surface
1 2 3 drops (n) (g/ml) tension
(dyne/cm)
Distilled water 36 37 36 36.3 0.95 72
Unknown 47 46 46 46.3 0.946 56.21
liquid
Surface tension = nw ρl /nl ρw × σw
Surface tension = 0.946×36.3 × 72 /0.95 × 46.3
Surface tension =56.21 dyne/cm
Uses of surface tension
1. Surface and interfacial tension effects the performance of pharmaceutical compounds.
2. Surface tension plays a crucial role in many pharmaceutical processes from tablet coating ti drug solubility
and stability.
3. Coatings on tablets are typically used to improve the appearance, mask the take and odor or control the rate
of drug.
Viva questions
1. Why surface tension needs to be measured?
2. Which method of calculating surface tension is appropriate?
3. What is weight drop method?
4. What is the principle of drop count method?
5. Write drop count formula.
Result
The surface tension of unknown liquid is 56.21 dyne/cm. The given liquid is dilute methanol.
