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If a small-diameter open glass tube is partially immersed in a vessel containing mercury, the surface of the mercury inside the tube will be?

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            Mercury is a heavy, d-block and silvery chemical element whose chemical symbol is Hg (hydrargyrum)  is commonly known to many as quicksilver. It is considered as the only metallic element in the form of liquid at standard temperature and pressure. Mercury is used in different devices like barometers, thermometers and manometers.  In chemistry, there are many experimentations conducted to describe the behavior and characteristics of the said element. One of which is stated below.   If a small-diameter open glass tube is partially immersed in a vessel containing mercury, the surface of the mercury inside the tube will be lower than the mercury in the vessel and shaped like the outside of an umbrella.  



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The question comes along these answer choices:

A. lower than the mercury in the vessel, and shaped like the outside of an umbrella.

B. higher than the mercury in the vessel, and shaped like the outside of an umbrella.

C. lower than the mercury in the vessel, and shaped like the inside of a bowl.

D. higher than the mercury in the vessel, and shaped like the inside of a bowl.

Answer: option A. lower than the mercury in the vessel, and shaped like the outside of an umbrella.

Explanation:

That is what is called convex meniscus and is due to the high cohesion forces of mercury.

There are two opposing forces that take place in the formation of the meniscus: the cohesion, which is the attraction of the liquid mercury atoms among each other, and the adhesion, which is the attraction of mercury atoms to the molecules on the glass tube's walls (polar molecules of the glass tube).

Since, in mercury the cohesive forces (between the mercury atoms) are stronger than the adhesive forces (between mercury atoms and the glass tube's molecules), the cohesion overcomes the adhesion, meaining that the atoms try to remain together and, therefore, form the convex meniscus. Since the glass tube is upside down, the surface of the mercury inside of tube will be lower than the mercury in the vessel, and shaped like the outside of an umbrella.

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