Question

Water on a clean glass surface spreads, Where as mercury forms drops Why?

Answer 1

water has very less density whereas Mercury has such a high density that it can float on iron

Answer 2

When liquid water is confined in a tube, its surface (meniscus) has a concave shape because water wets the surface and creeps up the side. Mercury does not wet glass - the cohesive forces within the drops are stronger than the adhesive forces between the drops and glass.


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