Question

What is surface tension? How does surface tension result from intermolecular forces? How is it related to the strength of intermolecular forces?

Answer 1

Surface tension is the tendency of liquid surfaces to shrink into the minimum surface area possible.

Surface tension is caused by effects of intermolecular forces at liquid interface.

Surface tension increases as intermolecular forces increases.

Step-by-step explanation:

• Surface tension is the tendency of liquid surfaces to shrink into the minimum surface area possible. It can also be seen as the energy required to increase the surface of a liquid by a unit amount.

• Surface tension is caused by the mediating effects of intermolecular forces at the liquid interfaces. Example in water, surface tension is caused by the mediating effect of the force between hydrogen and oxygen molecules. Liquids tends to reduce their surface area because of inward attarction of the liquid molecules.

• Surface tension increases as intermolecular forces increases. Also, surface tension decreases as intermolecular forces decreases.