The shape of a liquid's meniscus is determined by .
A) the type of material the container is made of
B) the amount of hydrogen bonding in the liquid
C) the relative magnitudes of cohesive forces in the liquid and adhesive forces between the liquid and its container
D) the volume of the liquid
E) the viscosity of the liquid

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The shape of the liquid's meniscus is determined by the relative magnitudes of cohesive forces in the liquid and adhesive forces between the liquid and its container. Cohesive forces are the attractions between the molecules of the liquid, while adhesive forces are the attractions between the molecules of the liquid and the molecules of the container. If the cohesive forces are stronger than the adhesive forces, the liquid will form a concave meniscus. If the adhesive forces are stronger than the cohesive forces, the liquid will form a convex meniscus.

The Shape of a Liquid's Meniscus Is Determined by