1. Addition of a surfactant: Surface tension can be reduced by adding a substance known as a surfactant to the liquid or solution. Surfactants contain molecules that have both hydrophobic (water-repelling) and hydrophilic (water-attracting) regions. When added to a liquid, surfactants disrupt the intermolecular forces between the liquid molecules, thereby reducing the surface tension.
2. Increase in temperature: Surface tension generally decreases with an increase in temperature. This is because higher temperatures cause the liquid molecules to gain more kinetic energy, making them more mobile and causing the intermolecular forces to weaken. As a result, the surface tension decreases.
3. Changing the composition of the liquid: Altering the composition of a liquid can impact its surface tension. For example, adding solutes to a liquid, such as salt or sugar, can lower its surface tension. This is because the presence of solutes disrupts the intermolecular forces between the liquid molecules, reducing the overall surface tension.
State three ways of reducing surface tension
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