ABSTRACT
Cohesive intermolecular forces produce a net attraction that pulls matter at the surface of a fluid into the bulk of the liquid. In order to add matter to the surface, increasing the surface area, work must be done to overcome the net attractive force exerted by the bulk liquid. The surface tension, y (J/m2, N/m) is the ratio of the work done to expand the surface divided by the increase in surface area. Surface tension values are used to estimate the vapor pressure of liquids in aerosols and in soil capillaries, among other things.
