what is a meniscus in chemistry

In chemistry, a meniscus is the curve that exists on the surface of a liquid when it is placed into a container). The curve is formed by the surface tension between the liquid and the container holding the liquid. The nature of the curve, whether upward (convex) or downward (concave), depends on the surface tension of the liquid and its adhesion capacity to the wall of the container. The meniscus is commonly used in surface science to measure contact angles and surface tension). Manufacturers of glassware and other tools calibrate their measurement marks to account for the meniscus, which means that any instrument is calibrated for a specific liquid, usually water). To read a meniscus, you first need to see what type of meniscus your liquid forms. If the meniscus is a concave meniscus, read at the lowest level of the curve. If the meniscus is convex, take your measurement at the highest point of the curve. The measurement should be taken from the center of the meniscus, and the container should be held at eye level.