Tension in Chemistry

Tension in chemistry refers to the force exerted by a liquid or a gas on a surface. It is also known as surface tension. Surface tension is caused by the attraction between the molecules of the liquid or gas, which causes the surface to behave as if it were a stretched elastic membrane.

Factors Affecting Surface Tension

Surface tension is influenced by several factors:

• Molecular Attraction: The strength of the attraction between the molecules of the substance affects the surface tension.
• Temperature: Surface tension generally decreases with an increase in temperature.
• Impurities: The presence of impurities can lower the surface tension of a substance.

Applications of Surface Tension

Surface tension has several important applications in chemistry and everyday life:

• Capillary Action: Surface tension is responsible for the upward movement of liquids in narrow tubes or porous materials.
• Formation of Drops and Bubbles: Surface tension causes liquids to form spherical drops and gases to form spherical bubbles.
• Oil Spill Cleanup: Understanding surface tension helps in developing methods to clean up oil spills from water surfaces.

Study Guide

When studying tension in chemistry, it's important to focus on the following key points:

1. Understand the concept of surface tension and how it arises from molecular attraction.
2. Learn the factors that influence surface tension, such as temperature and impurities.
3. Explore the applications of surface tension in various chemical and environmental processes.
4. Practice solving problems related to surface tension and its effects on liquids and gases.