Oil Monolayer Experiment

Discussions center on using various oils such as vegetable, olive, sunflower, or mineral oil for the classic physics demonstration where oil spreads into a single-molecule-thick film on water to measure molecular size. Debates include which oils work best, historical uses, rancidity concerns, and alternatives like animal fats.

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Keywords

COOH IMO WD40 oil mineral vegetable acid oils water bread fat molecules butter

Sample Comments

Raphmedia Nov 19, 2014 View on HN

Wouldn't it work better with oil and also be easier?

chopsueyar Oct 16, 2010 View on HN

Guess we'll have to use vegetable oil.

darknavi Feb 24, 2022 View on HN

Perhaps "vegetable oil"?

Volpe Jan 31, 2013 View on HN

because people have olive oil already...

err4nt Jan 7, 2023 View on HN

You can use oil - that works too!

xhkkffbf Aug 8, 2022 View on HN

What kind of oil did they used to use?

justinclift Feb 2, 2023 View on HN

Wonder if it'll degrade to something oil like? :)

TremendousJudge Nov 14, 2018 View on HN

>vegetable oilbut what if it's just regular sunflower oil or something of the sort?

Zigurd Sep 12, 2022 View on HN

Food. But yeah, the oil thing is enough.

tonyedgecombe May 4, 2017 View on HN

Which is probably a better use of oil than burning it.