Question

Surfactants A, B, and C have surface tension reduction rates of 1000, 100, and 10 mn/ms respectively. Which of the following statements is true with regard to their foam height?

a) Surfactant A will produce the tallest foam.
b) Surfactant C will produce the tallest foam.
c) Surfactant B will produce the tallest foam.
d) Surfactants A, B, and C will produce foam of equal height.

Answer 1

Surfactant A, with the highest surface tension reduction rate, will likely produce the tallest foam, making option (a) the correct answer.

Step-by-step explanation:

The question pertains to the relationship between surfactants and foam height, with specific reference to the surface tension reduction rates of three surfactants: A, B, and C. Surfactants, being surface-active agents, reduce the surface tension of liquids, thereby allowing foams to form more easily. The surfactant with the higher surface tension reduction rate is more effective at reducing intermolecular attractions between water molecules, which leads to the formation of taller foam. In this scenario, Surfactant A, having the highest rate of surface tension reduction (1000 mn/ms), would logically produce the tallest foam, making option (a) the correct answer.