Question

The correct order of viscosity of the following liquids will be:

• A. Water < methyl alcohol < dimethyl ether < glycerol
• B. methyl alcohol < glycerol < water < dimethyl ether
• C. dimethyl ether < methyl alcohol < water < glycerol
• D. glycerol < dimethyl ether < water < methyl alcohol

Answer 1

The Correct Option is C

 The question requires us to determine the correct order of viscosity for the given liquids: dimethyl ether, methyl alcohol (methanol), water, and glycerol. Viscosity is a measure of a fluid's resistance to flow. Generally, more viscous liquids flow more slowly.

1. Understanding Viscosity: Viscosity is governed by the intermolecular forces present in the liquid. The stronger the intermolecular forces, the higher the viscosity. In general, viscosity increases with increasing molecular complexity and the presence of hydrogen bonding.
2. Analyzing Each Liquid:
   1. Dimethyl Ether: Dimethyl ether is a relatively simple molecule with weak intermolecular forces. It has the lowest viscosity among the given liquids due to the lack of strong hydrogen bonding.
   2. Methyl Alcohol (Methanol): Methanol is an alcohol and possesses hydrogen bonding, which results in higher viscosity than dimethyl ether.
   3. Water: Water exhibits a significant amount of hydrogen bonding, giving it a higher viscosity than methanol.
   4. Glycerol: Glycerol has three hydroxyl groups, which allow extensive hydrogen bonding, making it highly viscous. It is known for having one of the highest viscosities among common liquids.
3. Conclusion: Based on the analysis, we can arrange the liquids in ascending order of viscosity: dimethyl ether < methyl alcohol < water < glycerol. This order aligns with the correct answer, where dimethyl ether has the lowest viscosity, and glycerol has the highest.

Therefore, the correct order of viscosity is: dimethyl ether < methyl alcohol < water < glycerol.