10.2 Properties of Liquids

3 min readjune 25, 2024

Liquids are fascinating substances with unique properties that impact our daily lives. From the way water beads up on a leaf to how honey slowly drips from a spoon, these behaviors are governed by the interplay of cohesive and .

Understanding liquid properties helps explain phenomena like , , and . These concepts, rooted in , shed light on why some liquids flow easily while others resist, and how liquids interact with different surfaces.

Properties of Liquids

Adhesive vs cohesive forces in liquids

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  • attract molecules of the same substance hold liquid molecules together
    • Stronger increase cause greater resistance to flow (water has high surface tension forms spherical droplets)
  • Adhesive forces attract molecules of different substances cause interaction between a liquid and the surface it contacts
    • Stronger adhesive forces make liquids spread out more on surfaces exhibit (water adheres to glass surfaces climbs up narrow tubes)
  • Balance between cohesive and adhesive forces determines liquid behavior
    • Stronger cohesive than adhesive forces liquids form droplets resist spreading (mercury on glass)
    • Stronger adhesive than cohesive forces liquids spread out on surfaces show capillary action (water on paper towel)
    • This balance also affects the shape of a liquid's surface in a container, forming a

Properties of liquids in everyday life

  • measures a liquid's resistance to flow determined by intermolecular force strength and internal friction
    • Honey has higher viscosity than water flows more slowly
    • Motor oil's viscosity decreases at higher temperatures becomes thinner flows more easily
  • Surface tension is the tendency of a liquid's surface to resist external forces minimize surface area caused by cohesive forces between surface molecules
    • Water striders walk on water due to its high surface tension
    • Soap reduces water's surface tension allows it to spread out more easily clean surfaces better
  • Capillary action is the ability of a liquid to flow upward against gravity in narrow spaces occurs when adhesive forces between the liquid and surface are stronger than cohesive forces within the liquid
    • Plants draw water up through stems via capillary action
    • Paper towels absorb liquid spills through capillary action in their fibers

Intermolecular forces and liquid behavior

  • influence viscosity surface tension capillary action
    • ( London dispersion)
      1. Stronger higher viscosity surface tension (vegetable oil)
      2. Weaker van der Waals forces lower viscosity surface tension (acetone)
      • Liquids with hydrogen bonding (water ethanol) have significantly higher viscosity surface tension capillary action than those without (hexane)
  • Flow
    • Stronger intermolecular forces higher viscosity slower flow (glycerin)
    • Weaker intermolecular forces lower viscosity faster flow (rubbing alcohol)
  • Shape
    • Stronger intermolecular forces higher surface tension more spherical droplets (water on wax paper)
    • Weaker intermolecular forces lower surface tension more spreading (ethanol on glass)
  • Interaction with surfaces
    • Relative strength of adhesive vs cohesive forces determines liquid interaction with a surface
      • Stronger adhesive forces better wetting more capillary action (water on cotton)
      • Weaker adhesive forces less wetting reduced capillary action (mercury on plastic)

Phase changes and vapor pressure

  • occurs when liquid molecules at the surface gain enough energy to overcome intermolecular forces and enter the gas phase
  • is the reverse process, where gas molecules lose energy and return to the liquid phase
  • Vapor pressure is the pressure exerted by a vapor in equilibrium with its liquid phase at a given temperature
  • is the temperature at which a liquid's vapor pressure equals the atmospheric pressure, causing rapid vaporization throughout the liquid

Key Terms to Review (22)

Adhesive Forces: Adhesive forces are the attractive intermolecular forces that exist between different materials or surfaces, causing them to cling or stick together. These forces play a crucial role in the properties of liquids, particularly in the context of surface tension and capillary action.
Boiling point: The boiling point is the temperature at which a liquid's vapor pressure equals the external pressure surrounding the liquid. At this temperature, the liquid transitions to a gas phase.
Boiling Point: The boiling point is the temperature at which the vapor pressure of a liquid equals the pressure surrounding the liquid, and bubbles of vapor form inside the liquid. It is the point at which the liquid phase transitions to the gas phase.
Capillary action: Capillary action is the ability of a liquid to flow in narrow spaces without the assistance of external forces. It occurs due to the adhesive force between the liquid and the surface and the cohesive forces within the liquid.
Capillary Action: Capillary action, also known as capillarity, is the ability of a liquid to flow through narrow spaces without the assistance of, and in opposition to, external forces like gravity. It is driven by intermolecular attractive forces between the liquid and the surrounding solid surfaces, and is an important factor in the properties and behavior of liquids.
Cohesive forces: Cohesive forces are the intermolecular forces that hold molecules of the same substance together. These forces are responsible for phenomena like surface tension in liquids.
Cohesive Forces: Cohesive forces are the attractive intermolecular forces that exist between like molecules, causing them to cling together and maintain the integrity of a substance, particularly in the liquid state. These forces are responsible for the unique properties of liquids, such as surface tension and capillary action.
Condensation: Condensation is the phase transition from gas to liquid. It occurs when a vapor cools and loses enough thermal energy to change state.
Condensation: Condensation is the process by which a gas or vapor transitions into a liquid state. It is a fundamental phase transition that occurs when a substance cools and the kinetic energy of its molecules decreases, allowing them to form a more condensed liquid phase.
Dipole-Dipole: Dipole-dipole interactions are a type of intermolecular force that occurs between polar molecules, where the partially positively charged region of one molecule is attracted to the partially negatively charged region of another molecule. These attractive forces play a crucial role in the properties and behavior of liquids.
Evaporation: Evaporation is the process by which molecules in a liquid state gain enough energy to enter the gaseous state, typically occurring at the surface of the liquid. This phenomenon is crucial as it affects temperature regulation, humidity levels, and energy transfer in various systems. Evaporation is a key aspect of the behavior of liquids, influencing their physical properties and interactions with surrounding environments.
Hydrogen Bonding: Hydrogen bonding is a type of dipole-dipole intermolecular force that occurs when a hydrogen atom covalently bonded to a highly electronegative element, such as nitrogen, oxygen, or fluorine, experiences an attractive force with another nearby highly electronegative element. This attractive force is significantly stronger than a typical dipole-dipole interaction and has a significant impact on the physical and chemical properties of various compounds.
Intermolecular forces: Intermolecular forces are the forces of attraction and repulsion between molecules that influence the physical properties of substances. These forces are weaker than intramolecular forces, which hold atoms together within a molecule.
Intermolecular Forces: Intermolecular forces are the attractive or repulsive forces that exist between molecules, as opposed to the intramolecular forces that hold atoms together within a molecule. These forces play a crucial role in determining the physical properties and behavior of substances across various topics in chemistry, including non-ideal gas behavior, the properties of liquids, phase transitions, and the dissolution process.
London Dispersion Forces: London dispersion forces are a type of intermolecular force that arises from the temporary, spontaneous polarization of atoms or molecules. These forces are the weakest of the intermolecular forces, but they play a crucial role in the properties and behavior of many substances, including liquids, gases, and the noble gases.
Meniscus: The meniscus is the curved upper surface of a liquid in a container, caused by the attraction between the liquid and the container walls. It is an important property of liquids that is observed in various contexts, particularly in the study of the properties of liquids.
Surface tension: Surface tension is the energy required to increase the surface area of a liquid due to intermolecular forces. It causes the liquid to behave as if its surface were covered with a stretched elastic membrane.
Surface Tension: Surface tension is a property of liquids that arises from the cohesive forces between the molecules at the liquid's surface. It is what allows some insects to walk on water and causes liquids to rise in narrow tubes against the force of gravity.
Van der Waals forces: Van der Waals forces are weak intermolecular forces that arise from the interactions between induced or permanent dipoles in molecules. They play a crucial role in determining the physical properties of liquids and solids.
Van der Waals Forces: van der Waals forces are a type of weak intermolecular attractive forces that arise between neutral atoms or molecules. These forces are responsible for the non-ideal behavior of gases, the properties of liquids and solids, and the structure and general properties of nonmetals and noble gases.
Viscosity: Viscosity is a measure of a liquid's resistance to flow. It quantifies the internal friction within the fluid.
Viscosity: Viscosity is a measure of the resistance of a fluid to flow. It is a fundamental property of liquids that describes their internal friction and ability to resist deformation under shear stress. Viscosity is an important factor in understanding the behavior and properties of liquids, as it directly impacts their flow characteristics.
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