What is surface tension and why would you want to lower it by using surfactants?
In: Chemistry
Not directly linked to the question but it somewhat is. I saw a documentary about surface tension and what detergents. The surface tension is brought about by there being more water molecules at the surface. Imagine throwing a child’s ball park into a swimming pool, the balls would float to the surface (balls are representing high concentration of water molecules) and boom. This is your surface tension representation.
Anyways my original comment was to be about those insects that glide along the surface tension of water. I saw that even spiders can float impressively well on all 8 legs. It’s basically a untapped land that only insects dwell on. However once a detergent is added. The surface tension (or balls) are thinned out. That surface is scattered and now what was on the surface will drown.
Point is, you flush a spider down a clean water toilet it will likely bob up to the surface at some point. However, if you flush that same spider with a little detergent in the mix it will likely meet a watery grave.
Just think. You wouldn’t want to be thrown into the ocean without a life preserver!
Latest Answers