Liquid state

The liquid state of matter is considered as the intermediate state of gaseous and solid state. It is
because the particles are neither arranged in a perfect ordered manner as in crystalline solid nor
in the complete disorder as in gases.
Physical Properties of Liquid
The properties of liquids can be explained on the basis of kinetic molecular theory which is
based upon the following main postulates.
1. There are appreciable forces of attraction between the molecules of liquid. This is about 106
times as strong as in gases. In terms of these attractive forces, the properties of liquids like
surface tension, viscosity, vapour pressure etc. can be explained.
2. The molecules of liquid are in a state of constant random motion. The distances between the
molecules are less. Most of the spaces are occupied by the molecules and only small space
is available for the movement of liquid molecules. The properties like incompressibility,
higher density and slow diffusion as compared to gases can be explained.
3. The average kinetic energy of liquid molecules is proportional to the absolute temperature.
When the temperature of the liquid increases, the K.E. of the molecules increases which
lowers the attractive forces between the molecules. Hence, the vapour pressure of the liquid
increases.
•The process of conversion of liquid into its vapour is called evaporation or
vaporization. The liquid molecules are moving with different kinetic energies
and those molecules having sufficient energies to overcome the attractive
forces are able to escape from the surface into the gas phase. The process of
evaporation produces the cooling effect. The energy required for evaporation
process is supplied by liquid itself and hence cooling takes place.
• If the liquid is placed in a closed vessel, some energetic molecules escape
into the space above it. Since the vessel is closed, the molecules in the vapour
state cannot escape. After some time, the number of molecules in the vapour
state increases. Some of these molecules may strike the liquid surface and
change into liquid. This phenomenon is known as condensation. So, in such
case, the process of evaporation and condensation takes place at the same
time.
• . The pressure exerted by vapours in equilibrium with the liquid is called
the vapour pressure of the liquid. The vapour pressure of a liquid is the
characteristics at a given temperature. Vapour pressure of the given liquid
depends upon following factors.
• 1. Nature of the liquid

If intermolecular attractive forces between the

molecules are weak, more molecules will be able to
overcome the forces and hence pass into the vapour phase.
The vapour pressure of such liquids will be high and they
are called volatile liquids. On the other hand, if the
attractive forces are strong, fewer molecules will be able to
overcome the forces to pass into the vapour state. The
vapour of such liquids will be low and are called non –
volatile
• Effect of temperature
When the temperature
of a liquid increases, the
number of molecules with
higher kinetic energy
increases. The increased
kinetic energy may overcome
the attractive forces between
the molecules and more
molecules may escape from the
surface of liquid. Hence the
vapour pressure of the liquid
increases.
• Vapour Pressure and Boiling Point
•The vapour pressure of a liquid increases with temperature. When the
vapour pressure of the liquid is equal to the atmospheric pressure, the
liquids boils. The temperature at which the vapour pressure of a liquid is
equal to atmosphere pressure is called its boiling point.
•When a liquid is heated in an open container, evaporation occurs at the
surface of liquid. After some time, the formation of bubbles occurs inside
the liquid. When the vapour pressure within the bubbles equals to the
external atmospheric pressure, the liquid boils. If the temperature is below
the boiling point, only evaporation occurs at the surface and bubbles do not
form inside the liquid because below the boiling point, the vapour pressure
of the liquid is always less than the external atmospheric pressure.
•The temperature of the liquid remains constant during boiling. When the atmospheric
pressure is below 1 atmosphere or 760 mmHg (e.g. at high altitude), the liquid boils at
lower temperature. The normal boiling point of a liquid is the temperature at which the
vapour pressure of the liquid is 1 atmosphere or 760 mm. At 1 atmospheric pressure,
water boils at 100°C. Pressure cooker is used to cook food in shorter time because the
pressure inside the cooker is more than 1 atm and hence, water boils at temperature
above 100°C and thus the cooking requires less time.
• Boiling S.N.
Evaporation
Boiling of liquid occurs only at a particular Evaporation occurs spontaneously from the
temperature at which the vapour pressure of a 1. surface of liquid at all temperature.
liquid is equal to the atmospheric pressure.

Boiling occurs throughout the bulk of the liquid Evaporation takes places only at the surface
2.
in the form of bubbles of the vapour of the liquid.
SURFACE TENSION
The force which brings the tension at the surface of liquid is called
the surface tension and it is defined as the force acting at right
angles along the surface of liquid of unit length. The surface tension
is generally represented by g. In CGS system, it is expressed in dynes
cm–1 and as Nm–1 SI system.
Effect of temperature on surface tension
When temperature increases, the surface tension of
the liquid generally decreases. The kinetic energy of
the molecules increases with temperature and hence
the intermolecular attractive force decreases. It
results the decreases in surface tension.
•Applications of Surface Tension Measurements
Some of the application of surface tensions may be described as follows:
1. Surface tension of liquids accounts for the spherical shape of drops of liquids. Because of the
surface tension, the area of surface of liquid is reduced to minimum. As a sphere has a minimum
surface area for a given volume, the liquid drop becomes spherical.
2. Soaps or detergents are used to clean the dirty clothes which is due to sticking of grease on the
surface of the clothes. Soaps or detergents lower the interfacial tension between water and grease. As
a result, the grease mixes into the soap solution and easily removed from the surface of the cloth.
3. Surface tension is also responsible for the rise or falls of liquids in capillary tubes. Waters
rises in the capillary tube but the level of mercury falls. In the capillary tube, water is pulled
upwards due to the force of surface tension.
4. The concave or convex meniscus of liquid also arises from the surface tensions. When water
rises in the glass, the shape of the meniscus is concave. This is due to the stronger adhesive forces
(interfacial tension) between water and glass than the cohesive forces between water molecules. But
in case of mercury, the shape is convex indicating that cohesive forces are stronger than adhesive
forces.
• VISCOSITY
• It may be defined as the resistance that one part of a liquid offers to the flow of
another part of the liquid.
Let us consider the flow of a liquid through a narrow pipe as shown in
figure (i). In such cases, all parts of the liquid do not move with the same
velocity. The velocity of each successive layer increases as we move
towards the centre of the pipe. The velocity is maximum at the centre.
Thus, each layers of the liquid experience a retarding effect due to the
friction between the layers. This force of friction in which one part of the
liquid offer to another part of the liquid, is called viscosity.
Let us consider two adjacent moving layers of a liquid separated by a
distance dx in figure (ii). Let the area of each plane be A. Let each plane is
moving with velocities v1, v2, v3, ... such that each succeeding velocity is
greater than preceding by an amount dv. The flow of this type is known as
Laminar flow. In Laminar flow, the force required to maintain a constant
velocity difference dv between any two parallel planes is directly
proportional to A and dv and is inversely proportional to dx i.e.
 ……………………………………..i
……………………………ii
…………………………….iii
Combining expression i, ii, iii

h
Where h is the proportionally constant known as coefficient of viscosity
When dx = 1 cm, dv = 1 cm sec–1 and A = 1 cm2 then f = h.
Thus coefficient of viscosity may be defined as the force per unit area required to maintain
unit velocity difference between two layers of liquids 1 cm apart.
The unit of viscosity is dynes sec cm–2 and is known as poise. In SI system, it is expressed as
Newton sec m–2.
Fluidity: The reciprocal of viscosity is called fluidity represented by f. Thus, f = . It is
expressed as poise–1.
•Factors affecting viscosity of liquid
•Effect of Temperature on Viscosity
•The viscosity of a liquid decreases with increase in temperature. As the temperature increase the kinetic
energy of the molecules increase. Thus the intermolecular attractive forces decrease and hence the liquid
starts flowing faster. It means the viscosity of a liquid decreases with rise in temperature.
Molecular mass and size of the molecule
•As the molecular mass or size of the molecule increases, viscosity also increases. It is because of
increase in intermolecular force of attraction.

Polarity of the molecule

•As the polarity of the molecule increases, intermolecular force of attraction also increases. Consequently,
viscosity increases. Glycerol, glycol, etc, solution form strong intermolecular hydrogen bonding due to
high polarity of their molecules. Hence, their concentrated solutions are highly viscous.
.
Application of Viscosity Measurement
1. The measurement of viscosity of solutions has been used in
determination of the molecular weight of polymers.
2. When a patient suffers from the diseases like blood pressure, asphyxia
then the blood becomes viscous. In such cases, the patient is given the
medicines which lower the blood viscosity.
3. The viscosity measurements can be used to compare the viscosity
coefficient of different liquids
• Evaporation takes place from the surface of the liquid. Give reason.
• Ans: Evaporation is the process of conversion of liquid into vapour state at any
temperature. At any given temperature, all molecules do not possess the same
kinetic energy. The molecules at the surface having high kinetic energy
overcome the force of attraction and leave the surface of molecules. So,
evaporation takes place from the surface of liquid.
•
2. When does a liquid boil?
• Ans: When a liquid is heated its vapour pressure increases. When the vapour
pressure of a liquid becomes equal to the atmospheric pressure, the liquid boils.
For example, vapour pressure of water at sea level is equal to atmospheric
pressure at 100ºC. Hence, boiling point of water at sea level is 100ºC.
Liquid droplets are spherical in shape. Explain.
Ans: The surface tension acting on the surface of the liquid tends to minimize the surface area of the given mass
of liquid. For a given mass of substance, sphere has minimum surface area. Thus, liquids having high surface
tension contract to attain the minimum surface area and tend to form spherical drop. Hence liquid droplets are
spherical in shape.
• Explain the following.
a. Evaporation causes cooling b. Water rises in a capillary tub a. Evaporation causes
cooling:
When the liquid is placed in an open vessel, the surface molecules escape into the gas phase with different kinetic
energies. Those molecules of liquid which overcome the attractive forces of liquid are changed into vapour state. The
energy required for evaporation process is supplied by liquid itself that causes cooling effect.
b. Water rises in a capillary tube:
The attractive forces between the molecules of same substance are called cohesive force while that in the
molecules of different substances are called adhesive forces. When capillary tube is dipped in water, the adhesive
forces are stronger relative to cohesive forces. As a result of this strong adhesive force, water rises in a capillary
tube.
• What is capillary action?
• Ans: When a capillary tube (a thin tube having small internal diameter) is dipped in a liquid, there
is either rise or fall in the liquid level in the capillary tube. This phenomenon is known as capillary
action. Two types of forces are responsible to bring about the capillary action. They are cohesive force
(the intermolecular force of attraction between the liquid molecules) and adhesive force (attractive
force between the solid surface and liquid molecules.