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Chemistry Forums for Students => High School Chemistry Forum => Topic started by: thredbo on August 10, 2016, 04:11:34 AM

Title: Capillarity of water at various temperatures
Post by: thredbo on August 10, 2016, 04:11:34 AM

I conducted an experiment today to test the capillarity of water at various temperentures. My results showed that as the temperature increased, the height of the water up the small narrow tube decreased.

I will have an in class test on friday which will require me to explain the chemistry behind why it happened.

Can someone explain why the level lowered in terms of bonding etc?

My loose hypothesis is that the water level decreased because the adhesive forces acting between the water and the glass tube was weakened as the water heated up, but why did the forces weaken?

Thanks

Title: Re: Capillarity of water at various temperatures
Post by: Arkcon on August 10, 2016, 05:47:15 AM

Well, if you could define those forces, you may discover a relationship between temperature and the strength of those forces.  There may be other phenomena at work, however.

Title: Re: Capillarity of water at various temperatures
Post by: thredbo on August 10, 2016, 07:20:44 AM

I have tried and tried again to work this out, and as of yet my efforts have been fruitless. I'm just not sure why I got the results that I did.

Title: Re: Capillarity of water at various temperatures
Post by: AWK on August 10, 2016, 07:45:29 AM

Did you look at Wikipedia?

Title: Re: Capillarity of water at various temperatures
Post by: thredbo on August 10, 2016, 08:11:24 AM

Yes

Title: Re: Capillarity of water at various temperatures
Post by: Arkcon on August 10, 2016, 12:51:36 PM

Quote from: thredbo on August 10, 2016, 08:11:24 AM

Yes

Awesome, what forces cause capillary action?