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Surface Tension

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17 views12 pages

Surface Tension

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stptchemical2024
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Chapter 4…

Surface Tension
• Contents….
• Introduction
4.1 Surface tension , Angle of Contact and capillary
Rise Method
4.2 Rise of Liquid in a Conical Capillary Tube
4.3 Energy Required to Raise a Liquid in a Capillary
Tube
4.4 Factors Affecting Surface Tension
4.6 Application of Surface Tension
• Introduction :
• Surface tension is the elastic tendency of a fluid surface
which makes it acquire the least surface area possible.
Surface tension allows insects (e.g. water striders), usually
denser than water, to float and stride on a water surface.
• At liquid–air interfaces, surface tension results from the
greater attraction of liquid molecules to each other (due
to cohesion) than to the molecules in the air (due
to adhesion).
• The net effect is an inward force at its surface that causes the
liquid to behave as if its surface were covered with a
stretched elastic membrane. Thus, the surface becomes
under tension from the imbalanced forces, which is probably
where the term "surface tension" came from .Because of the
relatively high attraction of water molecules for each other
through a web of hydrogen bonds, water has a higher surface
tension (72.8 millinewtons per meter at 20 °C) compared to
that of most other liquids. Surface tension is an iportant
factor in the phenomenon of capillarity.
• Surface tension has the dimension of force per unit length,
or of energy per unit area. The two are equivalent, but
when referring to energy per unit of area, it is common to
use the term surface energy, which is a more general term
in the sense that it applies also to solids.
• In materials science, surface tension is used for
either surface stress or surface free energy.

• (a) Fig Water beading On a leaf


• (b) Fig Water strider walking on the water surface
• Surface Tension:
• Free surface of a liquid has tendency to contract in
surface area is called surface tension.
• SI unit of Surface tension: N/m. or (J/m²).
• Its Dimension is [M⁰L¹T ²̄ ].
• Angle of Contact : The angle measured from the side of
the liquid, between the tangent to the solid surface
inside the liquid and tangent to the free liquid surface
at the point of contact between solid and liquid
surfaces.
• Capillary Rise Method:
• Let us consider a capillary tube of uniform bore dipped
vertically in a beaker containing water. Due to surface
tension, water rises to a height h in the capillary tube
as shown in Fig..
• The surface tension T of the water acts inwards and the
reaction of the tube R outwards. R is equal to T in
magnitude but opposite in direction. This reaction R
can be resolved into two rectangular components.
• (i) Horizontal component R sin θ acting radically
outwards
• (ii) Vertical component R cos θ acting upwards.
• The horizontal component acting all along the
circumference of the tube cancel each other whereas
the vertical component balances the weight of water
column in the tube.
• Total upward force = R cos θ circumference of the tube
• (i.e) F = 2πr R cos θ or F = 2πr T cos θThis upward force
is responsible for the capillary rise. As the water
column is in equilibrium, this force acting upwards is
equal to weight of the water column acting
downwards.
• F = w.
• T = hgrρ/2cosӨ
• h = 2TCosӨ/ρgr
• Experimental measurement of surface tension of a
liquid by using capillary rise:
• A clean capillary tube of uniform bore is fixed
vertically with its lower end dipping into water
taken in a beaker. A needle N is also fixed with the
capillary tube as shown in the Fig.. The tube is
raised or lowered until the tip of the needle just
touches the water surface. A travelling microscope
M is focused on the meniscus of the water in the
capillary tube. The reading R1 corresponding to the
lower meniscus is noted. The microscope is lowered
and focused on the tip of the needle and the
corresponding reading is taken as R2. The difference
between R1 and R2 gives the capillary rise h.
• The radius of the capillary tube is determined using the
travelling microscope. If ρ is the density of water then
the surface tension of water is given by
• T = hrρg /2cosӨ , Ө = 0◦ , cos 0 = 1.
• T = hrρg /2
• where g is the acceleration due to gravity.
Factors affecting surface tension:
• Impurities present in a liquid appreciably affect
surface tension. A highly soluble substance like salt
increases the surface tension whereas sparingly
soluble substances like soap decreases the surface
tension.
• The surface tension decreases with rise in
temperature. The temperature at which the surface
tension of a liquid becomes zero is called critical
temperature of the liquid.
• Effect of temperature :
• Oxygen in the atmosphere is known to decrease the
surface tension of various substances.
• Temperature ↑ surface tension ↓
• At Critical temperature Surface tension: Zero
• Critical temperature of water 3744K
• Surface tension Increase with impurity.
• Application of surface tension:
• Surface tension of soap solution is less, it can
spread over large areas and wash clothes more
effectively, since the dirt particles stick to the soap
molecules.
• In soldering, addition of flux reduces the surface
tension of molten tin. Hence, it spreads.
• Antiseptics like dettol have low surface tension, so
that they spread faster.
• Surface tension prevents water from passing
through the pores of an umbrella.
• A duck is able to float on water as its feathers
secrete oil that lowers the surface tension of water.

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