Question

Explain the following behaviour of molecules water rises up in a harrow tubes but mercury which is also a liquid falls in a narrow tubes to level below the outside surface

Answer 1

Answer: find the answer in the explanation

Explanation:

The capillarity of water molecules is different from the mercury molecules.

What is capillarity ?

This is the tendency of a liquid substance to rise in a capillary tube.

Molecules water rises up in a harrow tubes because of the force of adhesion between the water molecules and the tube molecules is greater than the force of cohesion between the water molecules. This helps water to wet the tube and rise. While mercury which is also a liquid falls in a narrow tubes to level below the outside surface because the force of cohesion between the mercury molecules is greater than the force of adhesion between the mercury molecules and the tube molecules. Mercury does not wet.