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How is the property of surface tension related to the structure of a water molecule?
Wiki User
∙ 12y ago
Answer: Surface tension is a property of all liquids.
Explanation:
Surface tension is commonly observed as an outward force resisting the deformation of a liquid surface, but it is more accurately the energy per unit area necessary to create additional liquid surface.
Contrary to popular belief, molecules at the surface of a liquid are less tightly bound to the rest of the molecules because the surface reduces the number of molecules that a surface molecule interacts with as compared to a molecule in the bulk of the liquid. So, it costs energy to make surface, and that is what the surface tension is.
Wiki User
∙ 10y ago
Wiki User
∙ 14y agoSurface tension is the result of hydrogen bonding between H2O molecules.
Oxygen atoms have a strong "electronegativity", a property which makes them "hog" electrons when bonded with other atoms. This renders the O atom in H2O to hold the negatively charged electrons tighter than the H atoms. This makes the oxygen end of the molecule "negative" while the Hydrogen end is positive.
This charge difference makes water molecules "stick" together quite well. (the oxygen of one molecule, will stick to the hydrogen of another) Hydrogen bonding is an example of a dipole-dipole force, which is an intermolecular force (between 2 separate molecules).
Surface tension is the result of all these Hydrogen bonds in the water sample holding tightly to one another and creating a sort of structural rigidity. Obviously, this takes place on the very small scale, so the force of placing one's hand into water is enough to over come these forces, but the forces are strong enough to give water a comparatively high boiling point for such a light mass molecule.
Wiki User
∙ 12y agoWater molecules are special molecules in that they're extremely polar.
The covalent bonds between the oxygen atom and the two hydrogen atoms are un-even because the oxygen atom is very electronegative. This means the shared electrons spend more time near the oxygen nucleus and less time near the hydrogen neuclei. This causes the oxygen side of the atom to be partially charged negative and the hydrogen sides partially positive.
Each water molecule is in effect a small magnet. They align with each other positive to negative, one after another. With water, this structure is called hydrogen bonding because the effect is so strong with hydrogen because there are no electrons to shield the partial positive charge of the hydrogen neuclei.
The linkage between these hydrogen bonds cause water molecules to adhere strongly to one another, resisting interfacial surface area, causing the extraordinary high surface tension.
Wiki User
∙ 12y agoNo, colligative properties are for solutions only and depend upon the no of particles of solute in specific amount of solvent while surface tension is a property of pure solvent or liquid.
Wiki User
∙ 11y agoyes
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