3 VISCOSITY MEASUREMENT
EXPERIMENT: 3.1
Aim: Todetermine theabsolute and relative viscosities of the given liquid taking
as reference and using Ostwald viscometer. water
Requirements: Ostwald viscometer, rubber tube, graduated pipette, beaker, stop
watch, weighing bottle, given liquid, distilled water.
Theory: Viscosity is aproperty which measures the resistance to flow offered by a fluid
layer when another adjacent and parallel fluid layer tends to flow past the first layer.
It can also be defined as the force of internal friction between two layers of a liquid
moving past one another with differernt velocities.
The coefficient of viscosity or absolute viscosity of aliquid is defined as the tangential
force per unit area required to maintain a unit diference of velocity between two
parallel layers of the liquid held apart at unit distance. This is denoted by the symbol
n.
Relative viscosity isdefined as the ratioof the absolute viscosities of the liquid (n,)
and water (n.) at the same temperature, i.e., n, =n,/n, and hence it is unitless.
Ifthe distance between the layers is dx, the required difference of velocities between
these layers is du, and the area of each layer is A, then at a given temperature, the force,
'f, required for maintaining the selected velocity difference between the two layers is
related to the other factors by the following proportionality:
fa A. du/dx (at constant T) .(1)
f=n A. du/dx (at constant T) ...(2)
:. n=f/A. (du/dx) (at constant T) ..(3)
n’ coefficient of viscosityof the fluid at given temperature.
Dimensions in CGS system: dyn/cm² x (cm/s)/cm ’ dyn.s.cm?
Dimensions in SI system: newton/metre² x (metre/s)/metre ’ N. s. m?
CGS unit of n is the Poise. Centipoise is the smaller unit of n, i.e., 10² Poise
1Poise =1dyn.s.cm²= 0.1 N.s. m?
=1 g.cm'.s- = 0.1 kg.m-'.sl
28 ThysicalChemistry Laboratory Manual
The coefficient of viscosity (n) can be measured by using the
Poiseulle's equation for laminar flow in a horizontalcapillary tube is following equation
v-(t/8) ptr/l n
v’volume of liquid flowing out of the capillary in time. 4,
t’ time in which the volume 'v, flows out.
p constant vertical pressure head for maintaining the
r’ radius of the capillary tube
uniform flow rate
vit
l’ length of capillary tube.
n’ coefficient of viscosity of the liquid.
Considering water as a reference,
Nrelative = Miquidreference (water)
- (rrhp8 t/8lv)/(nrhp, g.t/8lv) ...5)
where p, and p are the densities of liquid (6)
From equation (5), and water respectively.
Miquid-relative
The value of n,eferenge (waler) at the XIreterence (water )
literature. temperature of the experiment can be taken from
Different types of viscometers:
1. Ostwald viscometer.
2. Suspended level type
viscometer.
Ostwald viscometer: It consists of a
0.4 mm diameter ), abulb A at fine capillary tube
its upper end and a Utube XY (about 10 cm long and
and bulb Bat the lower end.
Upper
mark (F)
A
¬-Lower
mark (G)
Fig. 3.1: Ostwald
viscometer
Viscosity Measurement 29
Procedure:
1. First clean and dry the viscometer and set it vertically in the burette stand.
2. Introduce a definite measured volume of water (15 mL) through E into the
larger bulb B.
3. Then suck the water into the bulb A through arubber tube attached at D to a
level somewhat above the upper mark.
4. Allow the water to flow freely through the capillary and note the time 'e using
a stopwatch for the flow of water from the upper mark (F) to the lower mark (G).
5. Then remove water and rinse the viscometerwith the given liquid.
6. Repeat the experiment by taking exactly the same volume of the liquid in bulb
Bas was the volume of water taken.
7. Determine the densities of water and the liquid using 10 mL of each.
8. Note down the room tenmperature.
Observation: Room temperature =......C
Coefficient of viscosity of water at .....°C, nwaler= centipoise (Refer Appendix D)
Table 3.1: Data recording
S. No. Liquid Time of flow (sec) Average time of flow (sec)
1. Water (i)
(ii
(ii)
2 Given liquid t, =
(ii)
(ii)
Calculation:
Mass of empty weighing bottle =W,8
Mass of weighing bottle + 10 mL of water = w, 8
Mass of weighing bottle +10 mL of liquid =w, g
Density of water, Pw W) 10
- W; 8 mL-1
W, -W gmL-1
Density of liquid, p,= 10
The relative viscosity of given liquid, n,elative P, 4/Pw tw
The absolute viscosity of given liquid, Miquid-Meilatve Xwaker
Result: The relative viscosity of given liquid is found to be
The absolute viscosity of given liquid is found to be. .
Precautions:
1. The viscometer should not be held very tightly.
2. The time taken should be noted very accurately.
3. The experiment should be carried out at aconstant temperature.
4. The viscometer should beclamped perfectly vertical.
