Final answer:
The work required to form an emulsion is related to the surface tension, a measure of energy required to increase the liquid's surface area, and intermolecular forces. Stabilizing agents may also be needed to maintain the emulsion.
Step-by-step explanation:
The energy or work required to form an emulsion can be understood by considering the surface tension and intermolecular forces at play. When shaking together or blending two immiscible liquids such as water and oil, one of the liquids is broken into colloidal size droplets and dispersed throughout the other, forming an emulsion. The energy required for this dispersion is related to the surface tension, which is the energy needed to increase the surface area of a liquid. With water having a surface tension of 7.29 × 10-2 J/m² and other liquids such as oil differing, the energy required to create an emulsion can vary. Additionally, stabilization of the emulsion often requires an emulsifying agent to prevent coalescence of the droplets.