When reading a graduated cylinder, if the liquid forms an upside-down meniscus, you should read at eye level the highest point of the meniscus.

When reading a graduated cylinder, if the liquid forms an upside-down meniscus, you should read at eye level the highest point of the meniscus.

• A. Read the lower portion of the meniscus
• B. Read the highest point of the meniscus
• C. Read the middle of the liquid
• D. Read the bottom of the cylinder

Answer: (B)

When reading a graduated cylinder, you determine the volume by where the liquid surface intersects the scale, and you do it with your eye at the same level as the surface to avoid parallax. If the liquid forms an upside-down (convex) meniscus, the surface bulges upward toward the center, so the true height is at the highest point of that curve. Therefore, you should read the topmost point of the meniscus at eye level. Reading the lower part, middle, or bottom of the cylinder would not reflect the true surface height and would introduce error.

When reading a graduated cylinder, you determine the volume by where the liquid surface intersects the scale, and you do it with your eye at the same level as the surface to avoid parallax. If the liquid forms an upside-down (convex) meniscus, the surface bulges upward toward the center, so the true height is at the highest point of that curve. Therefore, you should read the topmost point of the meniscus at eye level. Reading the lower part, middle, or bottom of the cylinder would not reflect the true surface height and would introduce error.