Applications of Surface Tension
Category : JEE Main & Advanced
(1) The oil and grease spots on clothes cannot be removed by pure water. On the other hand, when detergents (like soap) are added in water, the surface tension of water decreases. As a result of this, wetting power of soap solution increases. Also the force of adhesion between soap solution and oil or grease on the clothes increases. Thus, oil, grease and dirt particles get mixed with soap solution easily. Hence clothes are washed easily.
(2) The antiseptics have very low value of surface tension. The low value of surface tension prevents the formation of drops that may otherwise block the entrance to skin or a wound. Due to low surface tension, the antiseptics spreads properly over wound.
(3) Surface tension of all lubricating oils and paints is kept low so that they spread over a large area.
(4) Oil spreads over the surface of water because the surface tension of oil is less than the surface tension of cold water.
(5) A rough sea can be calmed by pouring oil on its surface.
(6) In soldering, addition of ?flux? reduces the surface tension of molten tin, hence, it spreads.
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