Which of the following liquids shows maximum surface tension?
Correct answer: B. Mercury
- A. Water
- B. Mercury
- C. Ethyl alcohol
- D. Chloroform
- E. Benzene
Explanation
The correct answer is Mercury (Option B). Mercury has the highest surface tension because of the strong cohesive forces between its metal atoms, which are much stronger than the hydrogen bonds in water or the van der Waals forces in other liquids like benzene, chloroform, and ethyl alcohol. While water has significant surface tension due to hydrogen bonding, it is still less than mercury. Ethyl alcohol and chloroform have even lower surface tensions due to weaker intermolecular forces, and benzene, with its weak van der Waals forces, has the lowest surface tension among the given options.
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About Properties of Liquids
Liquid behavior depends on intermolecular forces, which produce surface tension, viscosity, capillary action and a definite volume without a fixed shape. The topic also covers vapor pressure, evaporation, boiling point and the effect of temperature and external pressure, while distinguishing evaporation at the surface from boiling throughout the liquid.
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