Intermolecular Forces- Liquids and Solids- Surface Spreading and Surface Tension

Balloon Full of Carbon Dioxide

Water Cryophorus Tube

Crystal Unit Cells

Effect of Pressure on Melting Point of Ice

Freezing Balloons

Ice Bomb

Liquefying Chlorine

The Liquid Phase of Carbon Dioxide

Optical Transformation Kit

Solid State Resources CD

Superconductor

Vapor Pressure of Pure Liquids

Windows on the Solid State

Boiling Acetone at Reduced Pressure

Crystals Videotape

Ethanol Cannon

Liquid Viscosities I

Liquid Viscosities II

Liquid-Vapor Equilibrium

Magic Sand Models the Hydrophobic Effect

NaCl Crystal Cleavage

Pennies to Make Unit Cells

Solid-Vapor Equilibrium

Surface Tension: Floating Duck

Surface Tension of Water: The Floating Paper Clip

Which Will Evaporate First?

Will Tissue Hold Water? Interfacial Tension

Computer NaCl Crystal Cleavage

Copper Spring

The Drinking Bird

Variation of Volume of Water With Temperature

Surface Spreading and Surface Temperature

Gel Formation with Sodium Alginate and Calcium Chloride

Boiling Acetone or Water at Room Temperature

Density of Sulfuric Hexafluoride and Sublimation of Certain Gases

Surface Tension with Oil and Pepper

 

 

Surface Spreading and Surface Tension

The first photo shows two petri dishes with black specks in clear liquids. A dark object appears above the petri dish on the right side of the photo. In the second photo, pipettes appear above each dish. In the left dish, black specks form a circle in the middle of the liquid. In the right petri dish, black specks cling to the outer edge of the petri dish.
The first photo shows two petri dishes with black specks in clear liquids. A dark object appears above the petri dish on the right side of the photo. In the second photo, pipettes appear above each dish. In the left dish, black specks form a circle in the middle of the liquid. In the right petri dish, black specks cling to the outer edge of the petri dish.
 

Description: Drops of mineral oil and olive oil placed on water are compared for their spreading properties.

Source: Shakhashiri, B.Z.  Chemical Demonstrations: A Handbook for Teachers of Chemistry

Year: 1989  Vol: 3  Page: 301

Keywords: Surface tension, Water, Olive oil, Mineral oil

Rating:

Hazard: Low

  • Nonreactive reagents
  • Standard conditions
  • No use of toxic chemicals
  • Electric shock hazard if display is used

Effectiveness: Good

  • Clear contrast between behavior of systems
  • Low failure rate
  • Results are clearly observable
  • Good connection from demo to course material

Difficulty: Medium

  • Simple adding of nonreactive agents
  • Demos in which a display is used

Safety Precautions:

  • Eye protection
  • Gloves recommended
  • Use UL approved three-prong plug and outlet

Class: Intermolecular Forces, Inter-Phase Forces, Thermodynamics

Division: General, Physical Chemistry

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