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A-Level Biology OCR A

Water Molecules Glass Explain Level Shape Adhesion Stick

Water forms a concave meniscus and can dome above a container's rim due to the adhesive forces between water and the container, combined with cohesive forces between water molecules.

Water can dome above a container's rim due to adhesion (attraction to glass) and cohesion (attraction between water molecules), creating a concave meniscus.

Front Explain why water can dome above the level of the glass container it is in? Explain the shape it makes.
Back The meniscus:
  • Glass is made up of polar molecules to which water molecules are attracted to (hydrophilic) - adhesion
  • While the water is in the container, some molecules touch glass which is above the level of water and they stick to it - adhesion
  • Other molecules stick to that molecule due to cohesion and stay like that while the original molecule is stuck to the glass, resulting in a concave meniscus shape

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