Chemistry
Chemistry
10th Edition
ISBN: 9781305957404
Author: Steven S. Zumdahl, Susan A. Zumdahl, Donald J. DeCoste
Publisher: Cengage Learning
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**Understanding Surface Tension in Liquids**

**Question 12.4:**

*Choose the substance with the lowest surface tension in the liquid phase.*

The options provided are:
- (CH₃)₂CO (Acetone)
- H₂O (Water)
- CH₃SH (Methanethiol)
- CH₃CH₂CH₂CH₃ (Butane)

When evaluating surface tension, it’s important to understand that surface tension is a measure of the cohesive forces at the surface of a liquid. Typically, substances with stronger intermolecular forces exhibit higher surface tension. 

In this scenario:
- **Water (H₂O)** has very high surface tension due to strong hydrogen bonding between its molecules.
- **Acetone ((CH₃)₂CO)** and **Methanethiol (CH₃SH)** have lower surface tension compared to water. Methanethiol has weaker hydrogen bonding due to the presence of a sulfur atom which is less electronegative than oxygen.
- **Butane (CH₃CH₂CH₂CH₃)**, being a non-polar molecule with only dispersion forces, has the lowest surface tension among the given options.

Therefore, the substance with the lowest surface tension in the liquid phase is **CH₃CH₂CH₂CH₃ (Butane)**.
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Transcribed Image Text:**Understanding Surface Tension in Liquids** **Question 12.4:** *Choose the substance with the lowest surface tension in the liquid phase.* The options provided are: - (CH₃)₂CO (Acetone) - H₂O (Water) - CH₃SH (Methanethiol) - CH₃CH₂CH₂CH₃ (Butane) When evaluating surface tension, it’s important to understand that surface tension is a measure of the cohesive forces at the surface of a liquid. Typically, substances with stronger intermolecular forces exhibit higher surface tension. In this scenario: - **Water (H₂O)** has very high surface tension due to strong hydrogen bonding between its molecules. - **Acetone ((CH₃)₂CO)** and **Methanethiol (CH₃SH)** have lower surface tension compared to water. Methanethiol has weaker hydrogen bonding due to the presence of a sulfur atom which is less electronegative than oxygen. - **Butane (CH₃CH₂CH₂CH₃)**, being a non-polar molecule with only dispersion forces, has the lowest surface tension among the given options. Therefore, the substance with the lowest surface tension in the liquid phase is **CH₃CH₂CH₂CH₃ (Butane)**.
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