COMPUTER SYSTEMS INSTITUTE
F. Imperial St. Capantawan, Legazpi City
SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL DEPARTMENT
Subject: General Chemistry 2
Module Title: Properties of Liquids
Module Topic/s: (1) Viscosity, Surface Tension and Capillarity
(2) Evaporation, Vapor Pressure, and Boiling Point
Module No./Week: 1
Quarter: Third
Semester: Second
Grade Level: Grade 12
Teacher: Ms. Maureen Z. Mendioro
Name of Student: _______________________
Grade/Section: _________________________
MODULE OVERVIEW
This module discusses the different properties of liquids which are the viscosity, surface tension
and capillarity. Sample experiments and real life example of these properties are also
presented on this module.
OBJECTIVES
At the end of the lesson, the students will be able to:
1. Define viscosity, surface tension and capillarity;
2. Give real life examples of the three important properties of liquids; and
3. Explain evaporation, vapor pressure and boiling point
VOCABULARY
Viscosity – ability of a fluid to resist flowing
Intermolecular forces – Intermolecular forces are the forces of attraction or repulsion which
act between neighboring particles (atoms, molecules, or ions)
Nonpolar molecules – molecules that has no separation of charge; no positive or negative poles
are formed.
Dispersion force - a weak intermolecular force between two atoms or molecules in close
proximity to each other
Viscometer – an instrument used to measure the viscosity of a liquid
Surface tension – the energy required to increase the surface area of a liquid
Capillarity – is the spontaneous rising of a liquid in a narrow tube
Cohesive forces – is the attractive force between molecules of the same substance
Adhesive forces – is the attractive force between molecules of different substances
Meniscus - A meniscus is a curve in the surface of a molecular substance (liquid) when it
touches another material
Evaporation – the process by which an element or compound transitions from its liquid state to
its gaseous state
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Condensation – the process through which the physical state of matter changes from the
gaseous phase into the liquid phase
Saturated vapor pressure – the pressure exerted by vapor in equilibrium with its liquid in a
closed container
Normal boiling point – the temperature wherein the saturated vapor pressure is equal to the
external pressure
FOCUS/GUIDE QUESTION(S)
“What factors determine the physical properties of liquids?”
LEARNING PROPER
Properties of Liquids
The properties of liquids can be explained by the intermolecular forces and the average
kinetic energy of the liquid particles.
Three important properties describes a liquid: viscosity, surface tension, and capillarity.
Viscosity
Some liquids such as water and alcohol flow easily (they are fluid).
Others such as molasses and motor oil take a longer time to flow (they are
viscous). Viscosity is the ability of a fluid to resist flowing. It is related to the
movement of the molecules in the liquid and this to the intermolecular forces
present. Nonpolar molecules like benzene (C6H6), pentane (C5H12), and carbon
tethrachloride (CCl4) experience only weak intermolecular forces and low
viscosities. More polar molecules like glycerol (C3H5 (OH)3) and aqueous sugar
solution (syrup) have high viscosities because of H-bonding among their –OH
groups and dispersion forces at many points along their chain.
The viscosity of a liquid decreases with increasing
Figure 1. The Ostwald viscometer – a
temperature because at higher temperature, the average kinetic
device used to measure viscosity
energy of molecules that overcomes the attractive forces between
the molecules is greater.
Viscosity can be measure using viscometer. It measures the time it takes for a known
volume of a liquid to flow through the small neck.
Surface Tension
You see small insects flit (walk) on bodies of water, needles “float” on water, and water
“bead up” on a newly waxed car. These phenomena happen due to unequal intermolecular
forces at the surface of the liquid as shown in Figure 2. Molecules in the interior (below the
surface) are attracted equally on all sides, producing a net inward force. This inward force
makes the molecules at the surface to pack closely together, causing the liquid to occupy the
smallest possible area and behave like a tight skin.
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Figure 3. Molecular view of the
Figure 2. The property that makes the needle and intermolecular forces experienced by
insects rest on the surface of water is called surface molecules at the surface of a liquid
tension compared to those in the interior
To increase the surface area of a liquid, molecules move to the surface by braking some
attractions in the interior, which requires energy. The energy required to increase the surface
area of a liquid us called surface tension. Surface tension, like viscosity, is higher in liquids that
have higher intermolecular forces. Both properties are temperature dependent because at
higher temperatures, molecules have more kinetic energy to counteract the attractive forces
holding them. Surfactants (surface-active ingredients) such as detergents, soaps, and biological
fat emulsifiers decrease the surface tension of water and destroy H-bonds.
Capillarity
When you go for simple blood test, the blood sample be obtained by pricking your finger
with a needle. A narrow tube called capillary tube is placed on the skin opening and the blood
rises up through the tube.
Figure 4. (a) Capillarity illustrated during blood test. (b) A concave surface in the tube is due to
stronger adhesive forces than cohesive forces. (c) A convex surface in the tube is due to stronger
cohesive forces than adhesive forces.
The rising of the blood, or any liquid, in a tube is called capillarity or capillary action.
This results from a competition between the intermolecular forces within the liquid molecules
(cohesive forces) and those between the liquid molecules and the walls of the tube (adhesive
forces)
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When water is placed in a narrow-mouthed tube, the surface or meniscus takes a U-
shape (concave) because adhesive forces are greater than cohesive forces. In mercury, the
meniscus is curved downward (convex) because the cohesive forces (metallic bonding) are
stronger than the adhesive forces.
Capillarity is also observed in the transport of water from the roots to the other plants.
Evaporation, Vapor pressure, and Boiling Point
When liquid particles at the surface of a liquid have enough kinetic energy to overcome
the attractive forces of neighboring molecules, they escape into the gaseous or vapor state.
This process is called evaporation. The escape of more energetic molecules on a liquid surface
reduces the average kinetic energy of the remaining molecules. Since kinetic energy is directly
proportional to temperature, the liquid temperature decreases. This causes the cooling effect
when perspiration evaporates from the skin’s surface. Allowing volatile liquids such as alcohol
or acetone to evaporate from your skin has the same effect. An application of this is the use of
porous clay vessels or pots to keep water cooler than the outside temperature. Evaporation
occurs through the pores in the clay, leaving the “slower” or colder molecules behind. As the
liquid cools, the insulating property of clay keeps the liquid from absorbing heat outside.
When evaporation occurs in an open container, some particles collide with air molecules
and return to the liquid, but most of them escape until the liquid evaporates completely.
However, molecules in a closed container are trapped. As the vapor particles increase, some
collide with the liquid surface and return to the liquid state. This is known as condensation.
After some time, the number of liquid molecules vaporizing equals the number of molecules
condensing, and a dynamic equilibrium is reached. At this point, the container becomes
saturated with vapor, and there is no more change in the liquid level. This is illustrated in
Figure 5.
Figure 5. (a) Molecules of liquid in a closed container reach equilibrium with its vapor after some
time. (b) Molecules of liquid in an open container escape from the liquid until all the liquid
evaporates.
Evaporation and condensation continue steadily at equilibrium. This type of equilibrium
implies motion, not a static situation.
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Like other properties of a liquid, vapor pressure depends on the magnitude of
intermolecular forces and on temperature. Volatility is the ability of a substance to vaporize.
The volatility of a substance is proportional to its vapor pressure. The higher the vapor
pressure, the more volatile the liquid. Liquids like acetone and alcohol have high vapor
pressure and are considered volatile because their intermolecular forces are weak; on the other
hand, molasses and honey have low vapor pressures and are, therefore, nonvolatile. The
volatility of a liquid at a given temperature is determined by its intermolecular forces of
attraction. An increase in temperature decreases the intermolecular force of attraction in a
liquid, thereby also increasing vapor pressure (refer to Table 1).
Table 1. Vapor Pressures (in torr) of Some Liquids
at Different Temperature
The
temperature at which boiling occurs at a pressure of 1 atmospheric pressure (atm) is called the
normal boiling point of the liquid. This property changes as pressure changes. If the
atmospheric pressure is below 1 atm, especially at high altitudes like in Baguio City, liquids boil
at temperatures lower than 100°C. At an altitude of 1600 atm, atmospheric pressure is about
640 torr or 0.84 atm, and water boils at 95°C. This is because particles in the liquid need less
kinetic energy to escape. Cooking under these conditions takes longer than at sea level. The
effect of high altitudes and lower boiling temperature can be counteracted by using a pressure
cooker. In a pressure cooker, water boils at higher temperature and higher pressure. The
increased heat content of the boiling water allows the food to absorb heat from the water
faster than at 100°C. A rise of about 10°C inside a pressure cooker cooks food twice as fast as
at 100°C.
REFERENCES:
Breaking Through General Chemistry for Senior High School by Sol Saranay M. Baguio
Intermolecular Force Retrieved from https://courses.lumenlearning.com/trident-boundless-
chemistry/chapter/intermolecular-forces/#:~:text=Intermolecular%20forces%20are%20the
%20forces,between%20atoms%20in%20a%20molecule
5
Nonpolar Molecules Retrieved from https://www.thoughtco.com/definition-of-nonpolar-molecule-
604582#:~:text=A%20nonpolar%20molecule%20has%20no,which%20are%20frequently
%20organic%20solvents
Dispersion Force Retrieved from https://www.thoughtco.com/definition-of-london-dispersion-force-
605313#:~:text=Updated%20September%2001%2C%202019,as%20they%20approach%20each
%20other
Meniscus Retrieved from https://www.usgs.gov/special-topic/water-science-school/science/water-
meniscus?qt-science_center_objects=0#qt-science_center_objects
Evaporation Retrieved from https://www.britannica.com/science/evaporation
Condensation Retrieved from https://byjus.com/chemistry/condensation/
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PRE-TEST
Multiple Choice
1. Surface tension is the property of water of which
a. Water molecules at the surface tend to stick together
b. Water tends to be see-through
c. Water spills easily
d. None of the above
2. Water beads up on the surface of penny because of this property.
a. Adhesion
b. Universal solvent
c. High surface tension
d. Changes in density
3. The shape of a liquid’s meniscus is determined by ______.
a. The viscosity of the liquid
b. The relative magnitudes of cohesive forces in the liquid and adhesive forces between
the liquid and its container
c. The type of material the container is made of
d. The amount of hydrogen bonding in the liquid
4. What is the boiling point of water?
a. 0 ˚C
b. 50 ˚C
c. 100 ˚C
d. 100 F
5. When you increase the altitude, the air pressure ________.
a. Increase
b. Decrease
c. Stays the same
d. Become 0
ASSESSMENT
Quiz 1
Direction: Identify the following. Write your answer on the line provided.
___________1. The shape of meniscus when adhesive forces are greater than cohesive forces.
___________2. Attraction between molecules of the same substance.
___________3. Energy that is required to increase the surface area of a liquid.
___________4. Vapor particles that return to liquid state.
___________5. The spontaneous rising of liquid in a narrow tube.
___________6. The ability of a fluid to resist flowing.
___________7. Attractive force between molecules of different substances.
___________8. Liquid molecules escape into gaseous state.
___________9. Ability of a substance to vaporize.
___________10. The temperature wherein the saturated vapor pressure is equal to the external
pressure.
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ASSIGNMENT
Direction: Explain each of the following phenomena.
1. A free falling drop of water is in spherical in shape.
2. Your arm feels cool when alcohol evaporates from your skin.
3.
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Answer Key
1. U-shape/concave
2. Cohesive force
3. Surface tension
4. Condensation
5. Capillarity
6. Viscosity
7. Adhesive force
8. Evaporation
9. Volatility
10. Boiling point
