Viscosity is resistance to shear or flow in a fluid

Viscosity is resistance to shear or flow in a fluid - and a measure of the adhesive/cohesive or frictional property. Viscosity arising due to internal molecular friction produces the frictional drag effect.

There are two related measures of fluid viscosity - known as dynamic (or absolute) and kinematic viscosity.

• Dynamic, Absolute and Kinematic Viscosity  - An introduction to dynamic and kinematic viscosity, and how to convert between Centistokes, Centiposes, SSU and Degree Engler

Kinematic viscosities of some common liquids:

Liquid	Temperature		Kinematic Viscosity
	(oF)	(oC)	centiStokes (cSt)	Seconds Saybolt Universal (SSU)
Acetaldehyde CH3CHO	61 68	16.1 20	0.305 0.295	36
Acetic acid - vinegar - 10% CH3COOH	59	15	1.35	31.7
Acetic acid - 50%	59	15	2.27	33
Acetic acid - 80%	59	15	2.85	35
Acetic acid - concentrated glacial	59	15	1.34	31.7
Acetic acid anhydride (CH3COO)2O	59	15	0.88
Acetone CH3COCH3	68	20	0.41
Alcohol - allyl	68 104	20 40	1.60 0.90 cp	31.8
Alcohol - butyl-n	68	20	3.64	38
Alcohol - ethyl (grain) C2H5OH	68 100	20 37.8	1.52 1.2	31.7 31.5
Alcohol - methyl (wood) CH3OH	59 32	15 0	0.74 1.04
Alcohol - propyl	68 122	20 50	2.8 1.4	35 31.7
Aluminum sulfate - 36% solution	68	20	1.41	31.7
Ammonia	0	-17.8	0.30
Aniline	68 50	20 10	4.37 6.4	40 46.4
Asphalt RC-0, MC-0, SC-0	77 100	25 37.8	159-324 60-108	737-1.5M 280-500
Automatic crankcase oil SAE 10W	0	-17.8	1295-max	6M-max
Automatic crankcase oil SAE 10W	0	-17.8	1295-2590	6M-12M
Automatic crankcase oil SAE 20W	0	-17.8	2590-10350	12M-48M
Automatic crankcase oil SAE 20	210	98.9	5.7-9.6	45-58
Automatic crankcase oil SAE 30	210	98.9	9.6-12.9	58-70
Automatic crankcase oil SAE 40	210	98.9	12.9-16.8	70-85
Automatic crankcase oil SAE 50	210	98.9	16.8-22.7	85-110
Automotive gear oil SAE 75W	210	98.9	4.2 min	40 min
Automotive gear oil SAE 80W	210	98.9	7.0 min	49 min
Automotive gear oil SAE 85W	210	98.9	11.0 min	63 min
Automotive gear oil SAE 90W	210	98.9	14-25	74-120
Automotive gear oil SAE 140	210	98.9	25-43	120-200
Automotive gear oil SAE150	210	98.9	43 - min	200 min
Beer	68	20	1.8	32
Benzene (Benzol) C6H6	32 68	0 20	1.0 0.74	31
Bone oil	130 212	54.4 100	47.5 11.6	220 65
Bromine	68	20	0.34
Butane-n	-50 30	-1.1	0.52 0.35
Butyric acid n	68 32	20 0	1.61 2.3 cp	31.6
Calcium chloride 5%	65	18.3	1.156
Calcium chloride 25%	60	15.6	4.0	39
Carbolic acid (phenol)	65 194	18.3 90	11.83 1.26 cp	65
Carbon tetrachloride CCl4	68 100	20 37.8	0.612 0.53
Carbon disulfide CS2	32 68	0 20	0.33 0.298
Castor oil	100 130	37.8 54.4	259-325 98-130	1200-1500 450-600
China wood oil	69 100	20.6 37.8	308.5 125.5	1425 580
Chloroform	68 140	20 60	0.38 0.35
Coconut oil	100 130	37.8 54.4	29.8-31.6 14.7-15.7	140-148 76-80
Cod oil (fish oil)	100 130	37.8 54.4	32.1 19.4	150 95
Corn oil	130 212	54.4 100	28.7 8.6	135 54
Corn starch solution, 22 Baumé	70 100	21.1 37.8	32.1 27.5	150 130
Corn starch solution, 24 Baumé	70 100	21.1 37.8	129.8 95.2	600 440
Corn starch solution, 25 Baumé	70 100	21.1 37.8	303 173.2	1400 800
Cotton seed oil	100 130	37.8 54.4	37.9 20.6	176 100
Crude oil 48o API	60 130	15.6 54.4	3.8 1.6	39 31.8
Crude oil 40o API	60 130	15.6 54.4	9.7 3.5	55.7 38
Crude oil 35.6o API	60 130	15.6 54.4	17.8 4.9	88.4 42.3
Crude oil 32.6o API	60 130	15.6 54.4	23.2 7.1	110 46.8
Decane-n	0 100	17.8 37.8	2.36 1.001	34 31
Diethyl glycol	70	21.1	32	149.7
Diethyl ether	68	20	0.32
Diesel fuel 2D	100 130	37.8 54.4	2-6 1.-3.97	32.6-45.5 -39
Diesel fuel 3D	100 130	37.8 54.4	6-11.75 3.97-6.78	45.5-65 39-48
Diesel fuel 4D	100 130	37.8 54.4	29.8 max 13.1 max	140 max 70 max
Diesel fuel 5D	122 160	50 71.1	86.6 max 35.2 max	400 max 165 max
Ethyl acetate CH3COOC2H3	59 68	15 20	0.4 0.49
Ethyl bromide C2H5Br	68	20	0.27
Ethylene bromide	68	20	0.787
Ethylene chloride	68	20	0.668
Ethylene glycol	70	21.1	17.8	88.4
Formic acid 10%	68	20	1.04	31
Formic acid 50%	68	20	1.2	31.5
Formic acid 80%	68	20	1.4	31.7
Formic acid concentrated	68 77	20 25	1.48 1.57cp	31.7
Trichlorofluoromethane, R-11	70	21.1	0.21
Dichlorodifluoromethane, R-12	70	21.1	0.27
FDichloro-fluoromethane, R-21	70	21.1	1.45
Furfurol	68 77	20 25	1.45 1.49cp	31.7
Fuel oil 1	70 100	21.1 37.8	2.39-4.28 -2.69	34-40 32-35
Fuel oil 2	70 100	21.1 37.8	3.0-7.4 2.11-4.28	36-50 33-40
Fuel oil 3	70 100	21.1 37.8	2.69-5.84 2.06-3.97	35-45 32.8-39
Fuel oil 5A	70 100	21.1 37.8	7.4-26.4 4.91-13.7	50-125 42-72
Fuel oil 5B	70 100	21.1 37.8	26.4- 13.6-67.1	125- 72-310
Fuel oil 6	122 160	50 71.1	97.4-660 37.5-172	450-3M 175-780
Gas oils	70 100	21.1 37.8	13.9 7.4	73 50
Gasoline a	60 100	15.6 37.8	0.88 0.71
Gasoline b	60 100	15.6 37.8	0.64
Gasoline c	60 100	15.6 37.8	0.46 0.40
Glycerine 100%	68.6 100	20.3 37.8	648 176	2950 813
Glycerine 50% water	68 140	20 60	5.29 1.85 cp	43
Glycol	68		52
Glucose	100 150	37.8 65.6	7.7M-22M 880-2420	35M-100M 4M-11M
Heptanes-n	0 100	-17.8 37.8	0.928 0.511
Hexane-n	0 100	-17.8 37.8	0.683 0.401
Honey	100	37.8	73.6	349
Hydrochloric acid	68		1.9
Ink, printers	100 130	37.8 54.4	550-2200 238-660	2500-10M 1100-3M
Insulating oil	70 100	21.1 37.8	24.1 max 11.75 max	115 max 65 max
Kerosene	68	20	2.71	35
Jet Fuel	-30.	-34.4	7.9	52
Lard	100 130	37.8 54.4	62.1 34.3	287 160
Lard oil	100 130	37.8 54.4	41-47.5 23.4-27.1	190-220 112-128
Linseed oil	100 130	37.8 54.4	30.5 18.94	143 93
Mercury	70 100	21.1 37.8	0.118 0.11
Methyl acetate	68 104	20 40	0.44 0.32 cp
Methyl iodide	68 104	20 40	0.213 0.42 cp
Menhaden oil	100 130	37.8 54.4	29.8 18.2	140 90
Milk	68	20	1.13	31.5
Molasses A, first	100 130	37.8 54.4	281-5070 151-1760	1300-23500 700-8160
Molasses B, second	100 130	37.8 54.4	1410-13200 660-3300	6535-61180 3058-15294
Molasses C, blackstrap	100 130	37.8 54.4	2630-5500 1320-16500	12190-25500 6120-76500
Naphthalene	176 212	80 100	0.9 0.78 cp
Neatstool oil	100 130	37.8 54.4	49.7 27.5	230 130
Nitrobenzene	68	20	1.67	31.8
Nonane-n	0 100	-17.8 37.8	1.728 0.807	32
Octane-n	0 100	-17.8 37.8	1.266 0.645	31.7
Olive oil	100 130	37.8 54.4	43.2 24.1	200
Palms oil	100 130	37.8 54.4	47.8 26.4
Peanut oil	100 130	37.8 54.4	42 23.4	200
Pentane-n	0 80	17.8 26.7	0.508 0.342
Petrolatum	130 160	54.4 71.1	20.5 15	100 77
Petroleum ether	60	15.6	31(est)	1.1
Phenol, carbolic acid			11.7
Propionic acid	32 68	0 20	1.52 cp 1.13	31.5
Propylene glycol	70	21.1	52	241
Quenching oil (typical)			100-120	20.5-25
Rapeseed oil	100 130	37.8 54.4	54.1 31	250 145
Rosin oil	100 130	37.8 54.4	324.7 129.9	1500 600
Rosin (wood)	100 200	37.8 93.3	216-11M 108-4400	1M-50M 500-20M
Sesame seed oil	100 130	37.8 54.4	39.6 23	184 110
Silicate of soda			79
Sodium chloride 5%	68	20	1.097	31.1
Sodium chloride 25%	60	15.6	2.4	34
Sodium hydroxide (caustic soda) 20%	65	18.3	4.0	39.4
Sodium hydroxide (caustic soda) 30%	65	18.3	10.0	58.1
Sodium hydroxide (caustic soda) 40%	65	18.3
Soya bean oil	100 130	37.8 54.4	35.4 19.64	165 96
Sperm oil	100 130	37.5 54.4	21-23 15.2	110 78
Sulphuric acid 100%	68 140	20 60	14.56 7.2 cp	76
Sulphuric acid 95%	68	20	14.5	75
Sulphuric acid 60%	68	20	4.4	41
Sulphuric acid 20%				3M-8M 650-1400
Tar, coke oven	70 100	21.1 37.8	600-1760 141-308	15M-300M 2M-20M
Tar, gas house	70 100	21.1 37.8	3300-66M 440-4400	2500 500
Tar, pine	100 132	37.8 55.6	559 108.2	200-300 55-60
Toluene	68 140	20 60	0.68 0.38 cp	185.7
Triethylene glycol	70	21.1	40	400-440 185-205
Turpentine	100 130	37.8 54.4	86.5-95.2 39.9-44.3	1425 650
Varnish, spar	68 100	20 37.8	313 143
Water, distilled	68	20	1.0038	31
Water, fresh	60 130	15.6 54.4	1.13 0.55	31.5
Water, sea			1.15	31.5
Whale oil	100 130	37.8 54.4	35-39.6 19.9-23.4	163-184 97-112
Xylene-o	68 104	20 40	0.93 0.623 cp

• 1 cSt (centiStokes) = 10^-6 m²/s
• Baumé Hydrometer