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Give a molecular explanation of why surface tension decreases with increasing temperature.

Give a molecular explanation of why surface tension decreases with increasing temperature.

Grade:10

1 Answers

Jitender Pal
askIITians Faculty 365 Points
8 years ago
Surface tension is due to the interaction between the molecules present on the surface of the liquid. It depends on the distance between the molecules. When the inter molecule distance are large, the surface tension decreases. If the intermolecular distance is small, the surface tension increases.
When the temperature of the liquid is decrease, the distance between the molecules on the surface of the liquid are strongly bound. This increases the surface tension of the cold liquid.
As the temperature of the liquid increases, the distance between the molecules on the surface of the liquid increases due to the thermal agitation. Thus, they are loosely bound which decreases its surface tension.
Therefore, surface tension decreases with increasing temperature.

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