What happens to the surface tension of water when a small amount of soap is adde
Practice Questions
Q1
What happens to the surface tension of water when a small amount of soap is added?
Increases
Decreases
Remains the same
Becomes zero
Questions & Step-by-Step Solutions
What happens to the surface tension of water when a small amount of soap is added?
Step 1: Understand what surface tension is. Surface tension is the force that makes the surface of water behave like a stretched elastic sheet.
Step 2: Know that water molecules are attracted to each other. This attraction creates strong cohesive forces that contribute to surface tension.
Step 3: When soap is added to water, soap molecules mix with the water. Soap molecules have a special structure that allows them to interact with both water and air.
Step 4: The soap molecules disrupt the cohesive forces between the water molecules. This means that the water molecules are not as strongly attracted to each other anymore.
Step 5: Because the cohesive forces are weaker, the surface tension of the water decreases. This makes it easier for things to float on the surface or for bubbles to form.
