Section: Chemical and Physical Foundations of Biological Systems

Question 21 of 60

21) A student observes that mercury forms a convex meniscus in the graduated cylinder but that water forms a concave one. This behavior is best explained by the fact that:

the two liquids are being kept in graduated cylinders made of different materials.
the adhesive forces between water and the walls of the graduated cylinder are greater than the adhesive forces between the mercury and the walls of the graduated cylinder.
the cohesive forces between two mercury atoms are stronger than the cohesive forces between two water molecules.
the mercury has strong cohesive than adhesive forces, whereas water has strong adhesive than cohesive ones.

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