Which compound would you expect to have greater surface tension: acetone [(CH₃)₂CO] or water (H₂O)? Explain.

Key Concepts

Surface Tension

Surface tension is a physical property of liquids that describes the elastic-like force at the surface of a liquid. It arises from the cohesive forces between liquid molecules, which are stronger at the surface due to the lack of neighboring molecules above. This phenomenon causes the surface to behave like a stretched elastic membrane, influencing how liquids interact with solids and other liquids.

Hydrogen Bonding

Hydrogen bonding is a type of strong intermolecular attraction that occurs when hydrogen is covalently bonded to highly electronegative atoms like oxygen or nitrogen. In water (H2O), each molecule can form up to four hydrogen bonds with neighboring molecules, leading to a highly structured network. This strong bonding significantly contributes to water's high surface tension compared to many other liquids.

Molecular Structure and Polarity

The molecular structure and polarity of a compound greatly influence its physical properties, including surface tension. Water is a polar molecule, meaning it has a partial positive charge on one side and a partial negative charge on the other, allowing for strong intermolecular attractions. In contrast, acetone [(CH3)2CO] is less polar and has weaker intermolecular forces, resulting in lower surface tension compared to water.