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Why does water have a high surface tension? (3 points)Hydrogen bonding keeps water molecules close together.Water is a liquid at room temperature.Water molecules contain 18 electrons.The lengths of the bonds in water molecules can change.

Question

Why does water have a high surface tension? (3 points)Hydrogen bonding keeps water molecules close together.Water is a liquid at room temperature.Water molecules contain 18 electrons.The lengths of the bonds in water molecules can change.

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Solution

  1. Water has a high surface tension primarily due to the hydrogen bonding between its molecules. Each water molecule can form up to four hydrogen bonds with its neighbors, creating a strong interconnected network. This bonding pulls the water molecules at the surface back towards the bulk of the liquid, creating a 'skin' or high surface tension.

  2. The fact that water is a liquid at room temperature also contributes to its high surface tension. In the liquid state, the molecules are close enough to maintain hydrogen bonding, but not so close as to be locked in place as in a solid. This balance allows for the maximum number of hydrogen bonds, and therefore the maximum surface tension.

  3. The number of electrons in a water molecule (18) and the flexibility of its bond lengths do not directly contribute to surface tension. These factors influence the shape and polarity of the water molecule, which in turn affects its ability to form hydrogen bonds. However, it is the hydrogen bonding itself, not these underlying factors, that is the primary cause of water's high surface tension.

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