Engineering Chemistry Practical
Determination of Coefficient of Viscosity and Percentage Composition of Sugar solution using Ostwald’s
Viscometer.
THEORY
Coefficient of viscosity of the supplied liquid (sugar solution) was estimated using Ostwald’s
Viscometer with the help of mathematical expression given by Poiseuille:
Where, η = Coefficient of viscosity, r= Radius of capillary tube, P= Pressure, t= Time of liquid
flow, V= Volume of liquid discharge, l= Length of capillary tube.
We know, P= hρg. Where, h= Height of the capillary (constant), g= Gravitational Constant
and ρ= Density of liquid. So, the pressure difference depends only on the density of liquid.
For different liquid of viscosities η1 and η2, the expression can be reduced to;
=
If one of the liquid is water then the
expression can be written as;
=
Therefore,
= ×
This is the working formula of the experiment. Where, ηl, ρl and tl are viscosity, density and time of flow of the
given liquid and, ηw, ρw and tw are viscosity, density and Time of flow of water in the same instrument.
Finally, the percentage composition of unknown sugar solution can be determined by plotting the coefficient of
viscosity of the different sugar solutions against the percentage composition of the same sugar solutions. And
the nature of the curve is shown above;
INSTRUMENTS & APPARATUS
1. Chemical Balance. 2. Weight Box. 3. Specific Gravity bottle. 4. Clamp with stand.
5. Ostwald’s Viscometer 6. Beaker 7. Stop Watch. 8. Wash bottle. 9. Pipette
REAGANTS
1. Distilled Water. 2. Sugar Solution.
PROCEDURE
1. The density of 4%, 8%, 12%, 16% and unknown sugar solutions were measured with the help of
Chemical Balance using Specific Gravity Bottle.
2. Time of flow of the liquids (water, 4%, 8%, 12%, 16% and unknown sugar solutions) were measured
with the help of Ostwald’s [Link]’s Viscometer is first placed vertically in the stand and a
sufficient volume of liquid (sugar solution) was introduced by pipette in bulb B so that the bent portion
of tube and half or a little more than half of bulb B are filled. Then the liquid was sucked through the
rubber tube attached arm of bulb A until it rises above the upper mark C. Then the liquid was allowed to
flow under its own weight. The time of flow of the liquid was counted by starting the stop watch as the
meniscus just reaches the upper mark C and stopping the watch as the meniscus just passes the lower
mark D. At least 3- 4 readings with water and different liquids were taken. Each time the viscometer
should be rinsed with the working liquid.
3. The coefficient of viscosity of the supplied liquids (sugar solution) was calculated using the working
formula.
4. Then,the coefficient of viscosity of the sugar solutions were plotted against the percentage composition
of sugar solution to obtained the percentage composition of unknown sugar solution.
RESULTS
Room Temperature =
Density of water at that temperature =
Coefficient of Viscosity of water at that temperature =
Table 1:Measurement of Density.
Weight of Weight of Sp. Weight of Compositi Weight of Sp. Gr. Weight of sugar Density of sugar
empty Sp. Gr. Gr. bottle filled water, on of bottle filled with solution, W2- W = Y solution = Y/X ×
bottle, with water, W1- W= X solution sugar solution, (gm.) Density of water
W(gm.) W1(gm.) (gm.) W2(gm.) (gm.)(ρl)
4%
8%
12%
16%
Unknown
Table 2: Measurement of Time of Flow and Coefficient of Viscosity of sugar solution.
Solutions Time of flow (sec) Mean Time of flow (sec) Density of solutions (gm. /cc) Coefficient of viscosity
of solutions (Cp)
WATER
4%
8%
12%
16%
UNKNOWN
Table 3: Comparison Table.
Percentage composition of unknown Coefficient of viscosity of water from Coefficient of viscosity of water
sugar solution graph(Cp) from literature(Cp)
CALCULATIONS
1. , = × gm. /cc (Table 1)
2. , = × η Cp(Table 2)
CONCLUSIONAs per results.
PRECAUTION Write on your own.
Chart of viscosity and density of water with temperatures:
Temperature Density of Co-efficient of Temperature Density of Co-efficient of
(C0) water (g/cc) viscosity of water (C0) water (g/cc) viscosity of water
(cp) (cp)
25 0.99707 0.894 31 0.99537 0.784
26 0.99681 0.874 32 0.99505 0.768
27 0.99654 0.855 33 0.99473 0.752
28 0.99626 0.836 34 0.99440 0.737
29 0.99597 0.818 35 0.99406 0.723
30 0.99567 0.801 36 0.99371 0.709
