Q3(b)(i). Surface tension: ethanol or dimethyl ether
Which of the following liquids has greater surface tension: ethanol or dimethyl ether? Explain the answer with reasons.
Answer in brief
Ethanol, because its molecules are held together by O–H···O hydrogen bonds, which dimethyl ether cannot form.
Part of VKC Basic
Read the key points and the full model answer with VKC Basic
VKC Basic (₹999 for 6 months) opens every solved answer, the notes, the handbook and the daily answer archive. Every Mains test series includes it.
The full model answer
As written for the answer booklet: the diagram carries the working, the lines stay short. Read here only; it is not offered as a download.
Coverssurface tensionhydrogen bondingethanoldimethyl etherintermolecular forces
All parts of Question 3
- 3(a)(i) Viscosity of air at 298 K and at 0 K10 marks
- 3(a)(ii) Boyle temperature of Ar, CH₄ and C₆H₆5 marks
- 3(b)(i) Surface tension: ethanol or dimethyl ether5 marks
- 3(b)(ii) Pressure difference across a water droplet of radius 150 nm5 marks
- 3(c)(i) Change in Helmholtz energy on reversible isothermal compression10 marks
- 3(c)(ii) Why a tyre gets hot when it is pumped5 marks
- 3(c)(iii) Pressure of O₂ over NiO at 25 °C5 marks
- 3(c)(iv) Final temperature after Joule–Thomson expansion5 marks