The University of the South Pacific
CH203 Physical Chemistry
Experiment 1: Temperature Dependent Viscosity of Water
Name: Pelesia Tupola
ID: s11191957
Lab Session: Friday 8am-12pm
Date: 28th August, 2023
Pre-Laboratory Questions.
1. Kinematic viscosity refers to the time taken for a liquid to flow having to do with velocity
whereas dynamic viscosity is obtained by converting kinematic using density due to
gravitational driving force.
2. By multiplying the time taken for the liquid to flow by the conversion factor
3. A raise in temperature decreases viscosity
4. Viscosity of liquid decreases with the increase of temperature because raising the
temperature of a liquid increases the average thermal energy of its molecule and thus the
intermolecular attraction is decreased.
Introduction
Viscosity implies density and it is simply the opposing flow of liquid or simply a liquids
resistance to the flow of another part of the liquid (Rohindra, 2012). A better understanding of
viscosity is a clear demonstration of liquid flowing through a test-tube where the part of liquid
closest to the tube-walls move slowly due to friction with the wall indicating a higher viscosity
than the liquid flowing in the center part of the test-tube. Thus it is expected that the as
temperature increases the viscosity of liquid decreases due to shearing effect of moving one ayer
fluid past another. Basically, liquids with high viscosity are thick and has a higher density while
less dense liquids are thin with a lower viscosity. Thus, the relationship between temperature and
viscosity alters depending on the different types of liquid used (Rohindra, 2012), hence the main
objective of this experiment was to prove the relationship between the two.
Two main importance of viscosity includes the determination of a fundamental property of a
liquid inclusive of diffusion and is also regarded as an empirical index in quality control
applications of oils and latex paints etc. In this experiment we used a Fenske capillary viscometer
to measure the amount and time taken for three different liquids (water, sodium chloride,
glucose) to travel from one point (line 1) to another point (line 2) which was then used to
calculate the kinematic viscosity and dynamic viscosity. There are different equations used to
determine the relationship between temperature and viscosity including Arrhenius constant,
kinematic and dynamic viscosity.
Methodology
10ml of fluid was added onto a Fenske capillary viscometer alongside a pycnometer was placed
in a water-bath with different temperature readings inclusive of room temperature 21 0C, 400C,
500 and 600. Before any readings or measurements were taken, the viscometer was first left in
each water-bath for 5 minutes. Afterwards, a suction bulb was used to draw the 10ml fluid
passed the second line of the viscometer then as soon as the fluid reaches the second line the
timer was turned on to record the time taken for the fluid to flow from the second line to the first
line. These measurements were repeated two more times in order to take the average of each.
The fluids used were water, sodium chloride (NaCl) and glucose. The below image shows the
apparatus for the experiment.
Second line
Pycnometer
First line
Viscometer
Water-bath
Figure 1: Fenske Viscometer and pycnometer inside a water bath at 400C.
Results and Discussion
Table 1: Viscosity result of Water, H2O.
Temperature Time (s) Mass (g) Kinematic Dynamic
(0C) Viscosity Viscosity
(mm2/s) (g/m s)
20 492.9 25.5277 0.87745 0.895970945
40 322.65 25.5015 0.57383 0.585339837
50 273.45 25.428 0.48608 0.494405656
60 249 25.2209 0.4424 0.446308205
Table 2: Viscosity result for Sodium Chloride, NaCl.
Temperature Time (s) Mass (g) Kinematic Dynamic
(0C) Viscosity Viscosity
(mm2/s) (g/m s)
20 493.65 26.24455 0.87878487 0.922532538
40 326.7 26.0655 0.581031703 0.605795274
50 271.95 25.8924 0.483417504 0.500673575
60 250.2 25.8102 0.444532091 0.458938487
Table 3: Viscosity results for Glucose.
Temperature Time (s) Mass (g) Kinematic Dynamic
(0C) Viscosity Viscosity (g/m
(mm2/s) s)
20 546.15 27.2119 0.97224 1.058262549
40 365.25 27.0513 0.64959 0.70289273
50 312.75 26.9401 0.55594 0.599085786
60 262.05 26.845 0.46559 0.499946321
Figure 1: Graph of Viscosity foe Water, Sodium Chloride and Glucose.
The relationship between temperature and viscosity is clearly shown in Tables 1, 2 and 3. The
relationship proves that when temperature is increased the viscosity of the liquid decreases which
in this case was water, sodium chloride and glucose. As answered in the pre-lab questions,
increasing the temperature provides the surrounding molecules with more energy increasing the
rate of molecular interchange as they travel at a faster rate than its usual speed. Thus, the
intermolecular forces decrease hence the viscosity of the liquid is also expected to decrease. On
the other hand, a decrease in temperature results in an increasing viscosity as molecules held
together moves slower.
The calculations shown by Eyring’s equation also clearly shows the relationship between the
temperature and the viscosity of liquid whereby the activation energy is found by multiplying the
slope by the gas constant 8.314kJ/mol. As a result, the calculated Ea for each liquid in this
experimental data, water, sodium chloride and glucose were comparable with the literature Ea of
water which is 15kJ/mol resulting with 14.4472kJ/mol for water, 15.0159kJ/mol for NaCl and
15.5662kJ/mol for glucose. An error may have been done during calculations or collecting of
measurements despite the activation energies being close to the literature value. Moreover, these
errors were found by finding the standard deviation of the values in the spreadsheet which
resulted with values <2.
Conclusion
In summarization, this experiment was conducted successfully as the data collected and resulting
calculations were comparable with the literature values. On the other hand, the data clearly
illustrated the relationship between temperature and viscosity shown by a straight-line trend in
the graph Figure 1 which proves that increasing temperature also decreases the viscosity of
water, sodium and glucose. Hence the objective of this experiment was achieved.
However, errors were made as shown by the corresponding standard deviations of the values
which implies that students need to be more careful and more observant of the experiment
process to reduce errors and obtain data more accurately.
Appendix
The following calculations shows a sample on obtaining data in table 1, 2 and 3 as well finding
1/T and ln μ which plotted the graph in Figure 1 at the temperature 200C.
Calculation of density
m
d¿
v
25.5277 g
=
25 mL
=1.021108g/ml
Calculation of Conversion Factor
=(0.00178)×( 1−( 0.00005 ) × ( 20−23 ) )
= 0.0017803
Calculation of kinematic viscosity (V)
= conversion factor × time
=0.001803 × 492.9s
V =0.87749 mm2 / s
Calculation of dynamic viscosity (μ)
=kinematic viscosity × density
=0.87749 mm2 / s ×1.021108 gmL−1
=0.89602 g/m s
Calculation of 1/T
= 200 C+ 273.15=336.15
1
=
336.15
= 0.00341
Calculation of ln μ
= ln (0.89602 g/m s ¿
= -0.1097973
Equation of y=mx+c
y=1737.7 x −6.0592
Calculation of Activation Energy.
= slope of graph × gas constant ÷ 1000
= ( 1737.7 × 8.314 kJ mol−1 ) ÷ 1000
= 14.4472kJmol-1
References
Rohindra, D. D., 2012. CH203 Physical Chemistry Laboratory Manual. Suva : University of the South
Pacific .
