what part does meniscus play in an experiment?

Answer 1

A meniscus is caused by the attraction of polar water molecules to the sides of the graduated cylinder. It may skew results if you don't read it right. You have to read a meniscus by looking at the bottom of it, and not the curved parts.

Answer 2

That depends...

The meniscus is a curve in the surface of liquid caused by the surface tension of a liquid and the attraction of the liquid to the sides of the container.

In experiments with water and glass the menicus is concave (shaped like a U). When reading measurements from a buret or graduated cylinder, you want to read from the bottom of the meniscus (preferably by putting a dark colored piece of paper behind the buret). When filling a volumetric flask, you want the center of the meniscus between the front and back of the calibration mark (when viewed from above or below).

Answer 3

If you look at a liquid in a tube (like a buret), the liquid level does not look flat like _ but rather is curved like a horizontal ). The bottom of the ) is the meniscus. When reading the number of mL according to markings on the tube, you take the reading as the marking where the very bottom of the ) is. Then, if you read the marking, let a little liquid out of the tube, and read it again, you'll always measure from the same reference point.

Answer 4

If you are using burettes or pipettes, it is important to read the bottom of the miniscus, since the liquid can creep up the sides of the tubes to a non-repeatable distance, depending on the glass used in making the tubes, and how clean the tubes are, giving you errors in volume.