What is the effect of surfactants on the surface tension of water?
Practice Questions
1 question
Q1
What is the effect of surfactants on the surface tension of water?
Increase surface tension
Decrease surface tension
No effect
Double the surface tension
Surfactants decrease the surface tension of water.
Questions & Step-by-step Solutions
1 item
Q
Q: What is the effect of surfactants on the surface tension of water?
Solution: Surfactants decrease the surface tension of water.
Steps: 4
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 what surfactants are. Surfactants are substances that can reduce the surface tension of liquids.
Step 3: Learn how surfactants work. When surfactants are added to water, they spread out on the surface and disrupt the water molecules' ability to stick together.
Step 4: Observe the effect. As surfactants disrupt the water molecules, the surface tension decreases, making it easier for things to float or for the water to spread.
