When a surfactant is added to water, what happens to the surface tension?

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Question: When a surfactant is added to water, what happens to the surface tension?

Options:

Correct Answer: Decreases

Solution:

Adding a surfactant to water decreases the surface tension by disrupting the cohesive forces between water molecules.

When a surfactant is added to water, what happens to the surface tension?

When a surfactant is added to water, what happens to the surface tension?

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 at the surface.
Step 3: Learn what a surfactant is. A surfactant is a substance that reduces the surface tension of a liquid.
Step 4: When a surfactant is added to water, it spreads out on the surface and interferes with the water molecules' ability to stick together.
Step 5: As a result, the cohesive forces between the water molecules are disrupted, leading to a decrease in surface tension.

No concepts available.