Surface tension is the property of a liquid that allows it to resist an external force due to the cohesive nature of its molecules. It is the force exerted by the surface molecules of a liquid, which causes the surface to act as if it were a thin, elastic film.

Explanation

Surface tension is a result of the cohesive forces between the molecules of a liquid. These cohesive forces are responsible for the tendency of liquid molecules to minimize their surface area, resulting in the formation of droplets and the ability of small objects to float on the surface of water.

Factors Affecting Surface Tension

Temperature: Surface tension decreases with increasing temperature due to the increased kinetic energy of the molecules.
Impurities: Adding impurities to a liquid can decrease its surface tension by disrupting the cohesive forces between the molecules.
Type of Liquid: Different liquids have different surface tensions based on the strength of the intermolecular forces present.

Applications of Surface Tension

Surface tension has various practical applications, such as:

Detergent Action: Surface tension plays a role in the ability of detergents to break down and remove grease and dirt from surfaces.
Capillary Action: Surface tension allows liquids to move through narrow spaces, such as the movement of water in plants and the action of ink in capillary pens.
Droplet Formation: Surface tension causes liquids to form droplets, which is important in various industrial processes and in the functioning of biological systems.

Study Guide

To understand surface tension, it's important to focus on the following key areas:

Understand the concept of cohesive forces and how they contribute to surface tension.
Explore the factors that affect surface tension and how they influence the behavior of liquids.
Learn about the practical applications of surface tension in everyday life and various fields of science and engineering.
Practice solving problems related to surface tension, such as calculations involving the force exerted by the surface molecules of a liquid.

By mastering these aspects of surface tension, you can gain a comprehensive understanding of this important property of liquids.

◂Chemistry Worksheets and Study Guides High School. The Science of Chemistry

Worksheet/Answer key

The Science of Chemistry

Worksheet/Answer key

The Science of Chemistry

Worksheet/Answer key

The Science of Chemistry

The resources above cover the following skills:

Nature of Science

The Practice of Science - A: Scientific inquiry is a multifaceted activity; The processes of science include the formulation of scientifically investigable questions, construction of investigations into those questions, the collection of appropriate data, the evaluation of the meaning of those data, and the communication of this evaluation. B: The processes of science frequently do not correspond to the traditional portrayal of ''the scientific method.'' C: Scientific argumentation is a necessary part of scientific inquiry and plays an important role in the generation and validation of scientific knowledge. D: Scientific knowledge is based on observation and inference; it is important to recognize that these are very different things. Not only does science require creativity in its methods and processes, but also in its questions and explanations.

Define a problem based on a specific body of knowledge, for example: biology, chemistry, physics, and earth/space science, and do the following:

Use tools to gather, analyze, and interpret data (this includes the use of measurement in metric and other systems, and also the generation and interpretation of graphical representations of data, including data tables and graphs)