Effect of Detergent on Surface tension

Physics Investigatory Project

Name: Sandhi Dhiraj Umredkar
Class: XI Rose
Roll no.: 10
Session: 2018-19
Subject Teacher: Mrs. Shiji Ma’am
 Certificate
This is to certify that the Physics Investigatory Project titled
‘Effect of Detergent on Surface Tension’ has been
successfully completed by Sandhi Dhiraj Umredkar of
class XI-Rose under the supervision and guidance of
Physics teacher Mrs Shiji Ma’am in partial fulfilment of
curriculum of Central Board of Secondary Education
(CBSE) leading to the award of annual examination of the
year 2018-19.

All the works related to the project is original and genuine

and has been completed solely, sincerely and satisfactorily
by the candidate to investigate about the subject matter.

Examiner’s Signature

Subject teacher’s Signature Principal’s Signature

 Acknowledgements

I hereby express my gratitude to my Principal Mr. P.

Ganesan and Mrs. Shiji Ma’am for their guidance
throughout my studies. I also thank my parents who
supported me in all my endeavours. I also thank my
classmates who have equally worked hard to make my
project a success. And last but not the least I thank the
almighty for everything that I have achieved till now.
 INDEX
Sr No. Contents Pg. No.

1 Certificate

2 Acknowledgement

3 Aim of Project

4 Introduction

5 Theory

6 Apparatus Required

7 Procedure

8 Observation

9 Conclusion
The Effect of Detergent on Surface Tension of
10
Water in Aquatic Environment
11 Bibliography
Aim:
To study the effect of
detergent on the surface
tension of water by
observing capillary rise
Introduction:
The surface tension is determined by what molecules are present in the
one or so layers of molecules at the surface of the interface between a
liquid and its vapor or air from the atmosphere.
Molecules that are surface active or detergents have two properties
that cause them to reduce the surface tension of water. First, there is
an excess concentration of these molecules at the interface (called the
surface excess concentration) and the forces between these molecules
is smaller than, or interfere with, the bonding between the water
molecules at the surface. Therefore it is easier (takes less energy) to
"stretch" the surface of the interface. It turns out that a lot, but not all
by any means, of such molecules have a hydrophilic polar end, and a
hydrophobic end. The polar end sticks into the water phase and the
hydrophobic end (often a hydrocarbon) sticks up into the vapor or air
phase. Within the water phase these surfactants form bodies called
micelles where the hydrophilic (water loving) heads point into the
water phase and the hydrophobic tails are on the "inside" of these
microscopic globules. Since these hydrocarbon ends are more weakly
bonded to one another they are easier to stretch. As the surface is
stretched and the surface density of the "tails" decreases there are
new ones below in the water phase ready to take their place on the
surface.
Theory:
A detergent when added to distilled water reduces
surface tension of water. If we use same capillary tube
to study the rise of pure distilled water and then the
rise of detergent mixed water (solution), we shall find
that the rise will be less in case of solution. If quantity
of detergent (solution concentration) is increased, rise
will be still lesser.
Apparatus Required:
& setting the apparatus

Place the adjustable height stand on the table and

make its base horizontal by level-ling screws.
Take dirt and grease free water in three 100ml
beakers.
Take three capillary tubes of radius 0.05 mm.
Clean and dry them, clamp the capillary tubes in a
metallic plate. Also clamp a pointer after third
capillary tube.
Clamp the horizontal handle of the metallic plate in a
vertical stand, so that the capillary tubes and the
pointer become vertical.
So adjust the height of metallic plate that the capillary
tubes dip in water in open dish.
Adjust the position of the pointer, such that its tip just
touches the water surface.
Procedure:
a) Arrangement of Apparatus
1. Take 50ml of dirt and grease free water in each beaker.
2. Dissolve approximately 1gm of a detergent in the water in beaker B to make
a dilute solution.
3. Add approximately 2gm of detergent in the water of beaker C to have a
solution with double concentration.

b) Measurement of capillary rise

4. Find the least count of the travelling microscope for the horizontal and the
vertical scale. Record the same in the note-book.
5. Raise the microscope to a suitable height, keeping its axis horizontal and
pointed towards the capillary tubes.
6. Bring the microscope in front of first capillary tube (which has maximum
rise).
7. Make the horizontal cross wire just touch the central part of the concave
meniscus seen convex through microscope.
8. Note the reading of the position of the microscope on the vertical scale.
9. Now move the microscope horizontally and bring it in front of the second
capillary tube.
10. Lower the microscope and repeat steps 4 and 5.
11. Find the rise of the solution in same capillary tube. The rise will be less than
that for pure water.
12. Repeat steps 4 and 5 for third capillary tube.
13. Find the rise of this concentrated solution in same capillary tube. The rise
will be still lesser.
14. Lower the stand so that pointer tip becomes visible.
15. Move the microscope horizontally and bring it in front of the pointer.
16. Lower the microscope and make the horizontal cross wire touch the tip of
the pointer. Repeat step 9.

a) Measurement of the internal diameter of the capillary tube

17. Place a capillary tube horizontally on the adjustable stand.

18. Focus the microscope on the end dipped in water. A white circle (inner
bore) surrounded by a green circular strip (glass cross section) will be seen.
19. Make horizontal cross-wire touch the inner circle at A. Note microscope
reading on vertical scale.
20. Raise the microscope to make the horizontal cross-wire touch the circle at B.
Note the reading (the difference gives the vertical internal diameter AB of
the capillary tube).
21. Move the microscope on horizontal scale and make the vertical cross wire
touch the inner circle at C. Note microscope reading on horizontal scale.
22. Move the microscope to the right to make the vertical cross-wire touch the
circle at D. Note the reading (the difference gives the horizontal internal
diameter CD of the capillary tube).
23. Record your observations.
Observation and Data analysis:
Beaker Volume of Water Amount of detergent Added to the Height of water in Decrease in height
Beaker the capillary tube
A 50 ml Nil 1.4 cm 0
B 50 ml 1 gm (1.09 gm) 1.2 cm 0.2
C 50 ml 2 gm (1.80 gm) 1.0 cm 0.4

As we start to add the mass the height of the liquid goes on decreasing inside the capillary
tube. It is because detergent decreased the surface tension so that due to less surface
tension the height of the liquid inside the capillary tube goes on decreasing.

Reason for the decrease in surface tension

Molecules of most detergents and soaps are long chain hydrocarbon molecules with
an ionic group at one end, usually carrying a negative charge, thus making it an anion. This
charge is balanced by the opposite charge of a soluble cation, for example Na+. The long
hydrocarbon chains do not interact well with water molecules, and many of them are
effectively ‘squeezed out’ to the interfaces between the water and the air or the glass sides
of the beaker. The effect of these molecules on the water surface is to considerably weaken
the forces between water molecules there, thus lowering the surface tension.

In hard water there is a significant concentration of calcium, Ca2+, and/or magnesium,

Mg2+, cations. These cations form an insoluble compound with soap anions, so instead of
forming a surface layer, they are precipitated out, leaving the surface tension little changed.

2 /\/\/\/\/\/\/COO−(aq) + Ca2+(aq) → (/\/\/\/\/\/\/COO)2Ca(s)

However, the calcium and magnesium salts of many detergent molecules are soluble, so
detergents still lower the surface tension of hard water.

From our experiment we observed that,

the rise in capillary tube decreases with addition of detergent in pure water. With more
addition of detergent, rise becomes lesser and lesser.
Conclusion:
The addition of the detergent on the surface tension
decreases the surface tension. Due to this detergents
are used for making the soft water, washing the
clothes, and as a cleansing agent.
The Effect of Detergent on Surface Tension
of Water in Aquatic Environment:
As we look at water strider, it can walk safely on water surface to catch food without sinking.
It is not because of it has less density than water, but it can float because of there is a
support from surface tension of water. Water can form a tension on the surface which acts
like a thin layer. This tension causes by the "cohesion" interaction between molecules of
water on the surface. The molecules are pulled by the other molecules at the side and
below the surface, and since there are no any molecules above the surface of water, this
interaction becomes stronger. The interaction is similar to when we tight the balloons
together with the strings. The balloon connects each other from one to one. This also
causes water drop a spherical shape.

However, by giving a small drop of detergent to water, water strider is soon sink into water.
This is because surface tension of water is loose in the present of detergent. Here, how
detergent affects the surface tension of water due to weighing water drops. The different
samples with different concentrations of detergent are prepared: 0%, 0.001%, 0.0025%,
0.005%, 0.01%. Then, ten drops of each sample are weighed. By comparison, an interesting
result is found that the weight of the drops becomes decreased while the amount of
detergent increased. Another ways to say, the size of the drops gets smaller when the
amount of detergent increases.

From this result, it is clear to say that detergent is a substance that decreases the surface
tension of water significantly. It can be explained that, if the surface tension of water is
stronger, it can keep the drops in bigger size with heavier weight. But the result is, in the
present of detergent, the drop becomes smaller or lighter. This means detergent can
reduce surface tension of water.

Therefore, it is proved that detergent is not good for aquatic organisms especially the group
of insects that depend on the surface of water such as water strider. With the enough
amount of detergent in water, those insects cannot survive. On the other hand, water
condition must also changes. It could cause Eutrophication Phenomenon in the water if too
much detergent is contributed to the water.
Bibliography: