Why does water have high surface tension?

1 ⤊

Why does water have high surface tension?

2007-01-25 17:32:53 · 2 answers · asked by Anonymous in Science & Mathematics ➔ Chemistry

2 answers

Hydrogen bonding in between molecules helps to keep them tightly bound together. This causes surface tension. Other substances without H-bonding will not have as good surface tension.

2007-01-25 17:37:40 · answer #1 · answered by Ooze90 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋

HYDROGEN BONDING because of the presence of dipole and considerable differences of electronegativity of hydrogen and oxygen in water. This hydrogen bonding provides additional "bonding capacity" other than van der waals.

Compare with 'CTC' - carbon tetrachloride which does not have a dipole and incapable of forming hydrogen bonding has less surface tension.

2007-01-26 01:42:06 · answer #2 · answered by Aldo 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋