Why Does Mercury Enter Water in Andrews' CO2 Experiment?

In summary, the densities of water and mercury are different, so water cannot flow past the mercury to replace it. The surface tension of mercury is too strong for bubbles of water to form, so the mercury stays in the bottle. Gravity pulls on the mercury, so it has to come out.
  • #1
akashpandey
90
4
Why mercury go inside the water in andrews experiment.
Because as we know density of mercury is greater than water so why mercury go inside the water in andrews experiment on co2.
 
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  • #2
Do you mean why does the mercury not fall down to be replaced by water?
 
  • #3
Yes.
 
  • #4
Because water can not slip past the mercury to go up the tube, and inversion is not possible. It is a metastable situation.
 
  • #5
Can you give this explanation in more accurate way ( mathematical way) cause i didnt understand this yet.
Plz
 
  • #6
I am still confuse because densities are different so water should slip past the mercury.
 
  • #7
akashpandey said:
I am still confuse because densities are different so water should slip past the mercury.
It physically can't insert itself between the mercury and the glass of the tube and the surface tension of mercury is too strong for bubbles of water to form inside the mercury.
 
  • #8
What about gravity acting on mercury.
SO it has to in liquid
 
  • #9
Of course that gravity is pulling on the mercury.

Do this experiment: take a big 2l bottle and fill it to the brim with water. Now turn it upside down very quickly. You will see that the water will have a hard time coming out, and the air going in, making the water come out in pulses. This is because to get water out, air has to take water's place, and the only way it can do that is by bubbling up through the water, which takes time. With water and mercury, the situation is so much worse that it is metastable: water will not be able to bubble up to the top of the mercury column, and the liquids stay in place.

(While you are making the experiments with the bottle of water, try this: after turning it upside-down, make a quick circular motion horizontally, to create a whirlpool of water inside the bottle. You will see that the water now flows out very smoothly. This is because the whirlpool creates a "hole" in the middle of the water and air can easily flow in.)
 
  • #10
Thank you
 

1. What was the purpose of Andrews experiment on CO2?

The purpose of Andrews experiment on CO2 was to investigate the effects of increased levels of carbon dioxide on plant growth and productivity.

2. How did Andrews conduct his experiment on CO2?

Andrews conducted his experiment by exposing plants to different concentrations of CO2 in a controlled environment and measuring their growth and other physiological responses.

3. What were the results of Andrews experiment on CO2?

The results of Andrews experiment showed that increased levels of CO2 led to significant increases in plant growth and productivity, particularly in crops such as wheat and rice.

4. How do the results of Andrews experiment on CO2 relate to climate change?

The results of Andrews experiment suggest that increased levels of CO2 in the atmosphere can have positive effects on plant growth, which could potentially mitigate the negative impacts of climate change on crop production.

5. What are the potential implications of Andrews experiment on CO2 for agriculture and food security?

The findings of Andrews experiment could have significant implications for agriculture and food security, as they suggest that increased levels of CO2 could potentially increase crop yields and help sustain food production in the face of a changing climate.

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