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There are two possible answers to this question.
If you mean the tension in a column of water, for example in the xylem, it is caused by hydrogen bonding between water molecules which enables the water column to resist breaking under the pull of gravity in the stem.
If you mean surface tension, this is also caused by hydrogen bonding between water molecules. At the surface of water there are many hydrogen bonds pulling molecules inwards but none pulling them outwards. So the water behaves as if it had a "skin". This also causes water to form spherical drops.
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∙ 14y ago
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Water can pile up short distance above a container's rim due to?
High suface tension
What property of water is demonstrated when you see beads of water on a waxed car hood?
surface tension, caused by the high attraction of water molecules for other water molecules.
What property of water molecules causes a large surface tension?
Water molecules can make hydrogen bonds between each other since the molecule is 'very' polar (due to the very electronegative oxygen)
Does cooking oil have more surface tension than water?
Because of the polarity of the water molecule, hydrogen bonds form between them. This results in the higher surface tension. Oil is nonpolar, so hydrogen bonds do not form between the molecules, so the surface tension is less.
Why does soap reduce the surface tension of water?
Soap will lower the surface tension of water. Like any surfactant soap will lower the surface energy by disrupting the strong inter-molecular hydrogen bonding that confers such a strong surface tension to water.
Does water have a relatively high or low surface tension?
MERCURY has a higher surface tension than water. This highest surface tension between liquids is 487 mN/m at 15 0C.
Is there anything such as water tension?
Yes. It is more specifically called water surface tension and it is the result of water's ability to form hydrogen bonds.
What does high surface tension cause water to do?
High surface tension causes water to behave as if its surface had an elastic membrane, which was stretched. Due to water's high surface tension, effects like tears of wine and rain water beading on a leaf or grass happen.
Relationship between high specific heat and surface tension?
When water is heated, that energy can be given to the hydrogen bonds, keeping the water cool. So, water has a high specific heat because it takes a lot of energy to heat it up. Surface tension is a result of hydrogen bonds holding the surface molecules together tightly. So the relationship between water's high specific heat and surface tension is that hydrogen bonds are responsible for both of them. If hydrogen didn't have these bonds, water's specific heat would be normal, and its surface tension negligable.
What causes the high surface tension and low vapor pressure of water?
Hydrogen bonding causes the inward force that minimizes the surface area of water, and the tendency of water molecules escaping this bond to become vapor is slim and/or slow, thus creating it's low pressure.
Does the pH of water remain exactly neutral because of the high surface tension of water?
The pH of water is not related to surface tension.
What is the reason the high surface tension of water?
The reason behind the high surface tension of water is hydrogen bonds. This very strong bond enables small insects to walk on the surface of water.
What is responsible for high surface tension and high specific heat in water?
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Does water have a low surface tension?
Water has a relatively high surface tension compared to other liquids, due to hydrogen bonding.
Why does water pool or puddle on a flat surface instead of spreading out evenly?
surface tension is the result of cohesion which holds liquids together surface tension is the result of cohesion which holds liquids together surface tension is the result of cohesion which holds liquids together
What do cohesion and surface tension have in common with reference to water?
Between water molecules a big cohesion force exist; this is the cause of the high surface tension of water.
What do cohesion and surface tension have in common reference to water?
Between water molecules a big cohesion force exist; this is the cause of the high surface tension of water.
