Surface Tension

Question 1

What is surface tension?

Answer 1

A physical property of liquids caused by strong intermolecular forces that pull liquid molecules tightly together, making the liquid resist disruption.

Question 2

Why do polar molecules usually have higher surface tension than nonpolar molecules?

Answer 2

Polar molecules have stronger intermolecular forces, so they attract each other more strongly.

Question 3

Why do nonpolar molecules usually have lower surface tension?

Answer 3

They have weaker intermolecular forces, so the molecules do not attract each other as strongly.