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Date:
EXPERIMENT 12: DETERMINATION OF COEFFICIENT OF VISCOSITY OF A LIQUID
Aim: Determination of coefficient of viscosity of a liquidusing Ostwald’s Viscometer.
Theory: Viscosity arises due to internal friction between moving layers of molecules. A
liquid flowing through cylindrical tube of uniform diameter is expected to move in the
form of molecular layers. A layer close to the surface is almost stationary while that at
the axis of the tube moves faster than any other intermediate layer. A slow moving layer
exerts a friction on its nearest moving layer. This property of a liquid by which it opposes
motion between layersis called viscosity. The coefficient of viscosity is defined as the
tangential force per unit area required to maintain a unit velocity gradient between any
two successive layers of a liquid situated unit distance apart. The coefficient of viscosity
of a liquid is given by Poiseuille’s formula, equation (1)
𝛑 𝐫𝟒𝐭 𝒕𝒍 𝒅𝒍
𝛈= ........ (1) 𝛈𝒍 = 𝛈𝒘 .......... (2)
𝟖𝐯𝐥 𝒕𝒘 𝒅𝒘
Where v=volume of the liquid, r = radius of the tube, l = length of the tube, p is the
pressure difference between the two ends of the tube, ή is the coefficient of viscosity of
the liquid and t is the time of flow. If equal volumes of two different liquids are allowed
to flow through the same capillary under identical conditions, then it becomes equation
(2). Were the time (tl) taken by the test liquid to flow through a certain distance in the
capillary is determined. The time (tl) taken by a standard liquid to flow through the same
distance is measured. Coefficient of viscosity of the test liquid is calculated from the
densities (dl and dw) of the test liquid and the standard and the coefficient of viscosity of
the standard. The viscosity measurement is carried out in Ostwald’s type capillary
viscometer shown in figure. Viscosity is a temperature dependent property and hence
the measurements are carried out at constant temperature.
Procedure: Clean the viscometer with water, rinse with acetone and dry it. Fix the
viscometer vertically to stand in a constant temperature bath (jar containing water).
Using a clean pipette, Transfer a known volume (say 12cm 3) of liquid into the wider limb.
Allow the viscometer to stand for some time so that the liquid attains the temperature of
the bath. Suck the liquid above the upper mark A of the viscometer. Allow it to flow freely
through the capillary tube. When the level of liquid just crosses A, start a stop clock when
the liquid just crosses the lower mark B stop the stop clock. Note the time of flow in
seconds (tl). Repeat the trial. Pour out the liquid, rinse the viscometer in acetone, dry it
and cool to room temperature. Repeat the experiment with exactly the same volume of
the water, find the time of flow (tw seconds). Calculate coefficient of viscosity of the liquid
using eq (2).
Note: Dry the viscometer thoroughly before conducting the experiment with acetone,dry
it in oven and cool.(for any liquid)
Result:The coefficient of viscosity of given organic liquid =___________millipoise.
Dept of chemistry/PACE/Mangalore
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OBSERVATIONS AND CALCULATIONS
FLOW TIME IN SECONDS
DENSITY VISCOSITY
LIQUID Trial Trial Trial COEFFICIENT
Average (g/cc)
(millipoise)
1 2 3
Organic
liquid
water
Lab Temperature= ……..°C
ηwater = viscosity coefficient of water (in millipoise)
ηliquid = viscosity coefficient of liquid (in millipoise)
dwater = density of water ( in g/cc)
dliquid = density of liquid (in g/cc)
tliquid = time taken by liquid (seconds)
twater = time taken by water (seconds)
ηliquid = ηwaterx tliquidxdliquid
twater xdwater
=…………………millipoise
Result: The coefficient of viscosity of given organic liquid = ________ millipoise
Dept of chemistry/PACE/Mangalore
