Final answer:
The substance with the highest surface tension among the given choices is ethylene glycol (HOCH₂CH₂OH) because it has two -OH groups allowing for extensive hydrogen bonding, which contributes to higher surface tension than the other options. option e is correct.
Step-by-step explanation:
To determine which substance among CH₃CH₂OH, CH₂F₂, CH₃CH₂F, CH₃CH₂CH₃, and HOCH₂CH₂OH has the highest surface tension, we need to consider their intermolecular forces. Surface tension is the tendency of liquid surfaces to shrink into the minimum surface area possible and is directly related to intermolecular forces. Hydrogen bonding is the strongest intermolecular force present among the options, significantly stronger than van der Waals forces such as London dispersion and dipole-dipole interactions.
Substances CH₃CH₂OH (ethanol) and HOCH₂CH₂OH (ethylene glycol) have the ability to engage in hydrogen bonding due to the presence of -OH groups, which can form bonds with other oxygen atoms or hydrogen atoms that are attached to electronegative atoms. Among the options provided, HOCH₂CH₂OH has the higher potential for intermolecular hydrogen bonding because it contains two -OH groups compared to one in ethanol, leading to a higher surface tension. Therefore, ethylene glycol (HOCH₂CH₂OH) is the substance with the highest surface tension among the given choices.