The meniscus of mercury in a glass capillary tube is convex because of
A)the very high density of mercury as compared with water.
B)the low surface tension of mercury.
C)the greater attraction of mercury atoms to the glass than to each other.
D)the weaker attraction of mercury atoms to the glass than to each other.
E)electrostatic repulsion between the glass and the mercury.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Mercury forms a convex meniscus in a glass capillary tube because the attraction between mercury atoms is stronger than the attraction between mercury atoms and the glass. This causes the mercury to minimize its contact area with the glass, leading to a convex shape.

The Meniscus of Mercury in a Glass Capillary Tube Is