In: Chemistry
When liquid water is poured onto a flat plate of glass, it spreads out, while liquid mercury forms spherical beads under similar circumstances. Explain the difference in behavior of the two liquids by filling in the blanks in the following statements: The attractions between the water molecules and the glass are _____ than the attractions among the water molecules themselves, so the water spreads out. The attractions among the mercury atoms are _______ than the attractions between the mercury atoms and the glass, so it maintains a spherical shape.
Surface tension:
The energy which is needed to improve the surface area of a liquid is known as surface tension.
Surface tension is depends on the strengths of intermolecular forces means greater the intermolecular force have high surface tension and lower the intermolecular force have low surface tension
The attractions between the water molecules and the glass are STRONGER than the attractions among the water molecules themselves, so the water spreads out. The attractions among the mercury atoms are STRONGER than the attractions between the mercury atoms and the glass, so it maintains a spherical shape.