How Increase in Temperatures Affects Viscosity of a Liquid
Temperature is one of the factors that affect viscosity of a liquid. An increase in temperature leads to an increase in molecular content of a liquid. When an interchange of molecules occurs, the liquid will move faster. Therefore, high temperatures lead to high viscosity.
Additionally, high temperatures have an impact on gas which is part of a liquid. An increase in temperature leads to high gas viscosity. According to kinetic theory of gas, viscosity should always be proportional to the square root of the prevailing absolute temperatures. Practically, absolute temperatures increases viscosity more rapidly.
Molecular interchange in liquid due to temperature changes is also similar to that developed in gas. However, the molecules are substantially attractive and cohesive in nature because of molecular forces. High temperatures therefore cause molecular interchange and cohesion thus, leading to high liquid viscosity. This means the closer the molecules in a liquid the higher the viscosity.
High temperatures also affect viscosity of a liquid by reducing its cohesive forces. Liquids travel at different speeds depending on the molecular content it has. This simultaneously increases the rate of molecular interchange and viscosity in the end.
Additionally, high molecular interchange due to high temperatures also leads to a decrease in sheer stress of a liquid. However, an increase in sheer stress reduces cohesive force in a liquid because temperature changes leads to a reduction in viscosity. Therefore, high temperatures can easily lead to high viscosity in gases and decrease in liquid depending on sheer stress. This is because of the force exerted to liquids by sheer stress.
It is also essential to note that an impact of increase in prevailing temperatures can slow down the sphere of gases. They can accelerate to liquids in high temperatures. Therefore, when you consider any form of liquid at room temperature, the molecules are then tightly bound together by cohesive and attractive inter molecular forces. This includes the Van der Waal forces.
Attractive forces in a liquid are therefore highly responsible for viscosity with an increase in temperature. Molecules cannot move faster in low temperatures. Individual or group molecules however can easily move from one end of the pipe to the other with an increase in temperature.
Similarly, an increase in temperature has an effect on thermal or kinetic energy. It causes an increase in kinetic energy and molecular movement or interchange. Molecules become more mobile with an increase in temperature causing high viscosity.
It is also imperative to note that the binding energy in liquids or molecules can be reduced depending on temperature levels. When the binding energy is reduced, viscosity is also reduced. If you heat the liquid, the kinetic energy will also exceed the liquid’s binding energy. Therefore, the molecules will become more mobile and they will start to escape from the liquid. As a result, the liquid will become a vapor, increasing its viscosity.
Therefore, irrespective of the type of liquid, an increase in temperature often leads to high viscosity. This is because of intermolecular changes it causes in a liquid. High temperatures loosen tightly bound molecules thus, creating room for easy movement.
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Sources
http://www.chem.purdue.edu/gchelp/liquids/problems/viscosity_ex3.html
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