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Question

Does adding salt to water increase surface tension?


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Solution

  1. Surface tension - It is the tendency of liquid surfaces to be in the minimum surface area possible. Particles which are present at the surface of a liquid feel more unbalanced forces whereas the particles present in the bulk have balanced forces therefore, particles present at the surface feel an inward pull and the surface resides in its minimum surface area possible.
  2. Cohesive forces are responsible for the property of surface tension of liquids.
  3. When we add Sodium chloride NaCl, commonly known as salt, the surface tension of water increases. NaCl is highly soluble in water and a strong electrolyte which dissociates completely in water into Na+ and Cl- ions.

NaClNa++Cl-

4. Na+ interacts strongly with the partially negative oxygen moiety and Cl-interacts strongly with the partially positive hydrogen atom in water. These interactions increase the surface tension of water.

So, adding salt to water increases its surface tension.


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