Question

Honey is more viscous than water can you suggest why?

Answer 1

Viscosity of a fluid is higher in which intermolecular forces are more. The liquids in which there are less intermolecular forces results in less viscosity of the liquid.

Complete step by step answer:
Let’s know what viscosity is and which factors affect the viscosity.
- We can say that viscosity of a fluid is the measure of the resistance to the deformation at a given rate. So, viscosity corresponds to the thickness of the fluid.
- The resistance between the layers of the fluid which are in contact with each other is referred to as the viscosity of the fluid. So, we can say that intermolecular forces decide the viscosity of the fluid.
- In water, only water molecules are there. So, the attraction between the molecules (intermolecular force) is not much high.
- Honey contains many types of molecules. It includes sugars, water, minerals and enzymes and many other molecules. So, as different organic molecules are present in honey, they have more attraction towards other molecules having suitable functional groups. Hence, the intermolecular forces between the molecules of honey are more.
- That results in more attraction between the molecules and so that the layers of liquid cannot move freely upon the other layers. That results in the resistance to the deformation in the fluid.
So, we can say that due to more intermolecular forces, honey is more viscous than water.

Note: Every fluid has dynamic viscosity as its intrinsic property. Dynamic viscosity of water, air, olive oil and honey is 0.89 $mPa \cdot s$ , 18.5 $\mu Pa \cdot s$, 56.2 $mPa \cdot s$ and 2000 - 10000 $mPa \cdot s$ respectively.