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Generally larger molecules with stronger intermolecular forces have higher surface tension. This tendency can be seen if you look at the surface tensions of the alkanes. Water is a clear exeption to this pattern due to the very strong hydrogen bonds.

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What does a high surface tension do to the number of liquid molecules that can stay together?

High surface tension causes more liquid molecules to stay together due to the strong cohesive forces between them. This results in the formation of a compact arrangement at the surface, which resists external forces trying to separate the molecules.


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.


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 The high surface tension of water explains why water?

Water molecules can make hydrogen bonds with other water molecules. Hydrogen bonds are the strongest type of intermolecular forces. This explains the high surface tension of water.


How is hydrogen bonding responsible for the high surfaces tension?

Hydrogen bonding contributes to high surface tension by creating strong intermolecular attractions between water molecules. In water, each molecule can form up to four hydrogen bonds with neighboring molecules, resulting in a cohesive network that resists external forces. This cohesive nature leads to a higher energy requirement to increase the surface area, thus resulting in high surface tension. As a result, water behaves as if it has a "skin" on its surface, allowing it to support small objects and droplets.

Related Questions

What role does high surface tension play in indicating the strength of intermolecular forces?

High surface tension is indicative of strong intermolecular forces. This is because surface tension is a measure of the cohesive forces between molecules at the surface of a liquid. The stronger the intermolecular forces, the higher the surface tension, as the molecules are more tightly held together.


What is the difference between high and low surface tension and how does it affect the behavior of liquids?

Surface tension is a measure of how strongly the molecules in a liquid are attracted to each other at the surface. High surface tension means the molecules are strongly attracted, creating a strong "skin" on the surface. Low surface tension means weaker attraction, resulting in a more spread-out surface. High surface tension causes liquids to form droplets and have a curved meniscus in a container, while low surface tension allows liquids to spread out more easily and wet surfaces better.


What does a high surface tension do to the number of liquid molecules that can stay together?

High surface tension causes more liquid molecules to stay together due to the strong cohesive forces between them. This results in the formation of a compact arrangement at the surface, which resists external forces trying to separate the molecules.


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.


What is the difference between liquids with high surface tension and liquids with low surface tension?

Liquids with high surface tension have stronger forces between their molecules at the surface, causing them to form droplets and resist spreading. Liquids with low surface tension have weaker forces, allowing them to spread out more easily and wet surfaces.


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.


What is the name of the characteristic that allows water to have a high surface tension?

Water molecules are linked by a high cohesive force.


What The high surface tension of water explains why water?

Water molecules can make hydrogen bonds with other water molecules. Hydrogen bonds are the strongest type of intermolecular forces. This explains the high surface tension of water.


How is hydrogen bonding responsible for the high surfaces tension?

Hydrogen bonding contributes to high surface tension by creating strong intermolecular attractions between water molecules. In water, each molecule can form up to four hydrogen bonds with neighboring molecules, resulting in a cohesive network that resists external forces. This cohesive nature leads to a higher energy requirement to increase the surface area, thus resulting in high surface tension. As a result, water behaves as if it has a "skin" on its surface, allowing it to support small objects and droplets.


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 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.