Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 10, 2026

Measurement of Aggregate Cohesion by Tissue Surface Tensiometry
Published on: April 8, 2011
Surface tension measurements of surface freezing in liquid normal alkanes
Abstract:
Surface tension measurements reveal surface freezing in liquid n-alkanes. A solid monolayer of molecules is found to exist up to 30 degrees C above the bulk freezing point. This surface phase exists only for carbon numbers 14 n = 50. The measured carbon number and temperature dependence of the surface tension is interpreted within a simple thermodynamical model based on known bulk latent heat data and surface energy considerations. The vanishing of the surface phase for n = 14 is a possible transition from surface freezing to surface melting behavior.
Related Concept Videos
Surface Tension, Capillary Action, and Viscosity
The various IMFs between identical molecules of a substance are examples of cohesive forces. The molecules within a liquid are surrounded by other molecules and are attracted equally in all directions by the cohesive forces within the liquid. However, the molecules on the surface of a liquid are attracted only by about one-half as many molecules. Because of the unbalanced molecular attractions on the surface molecules, liquids contract to form a shape that minimizes the number...
Surface Tension and Surface Energy
Consider a beaker filled with liquid. The bulk molecules in the liquid experience equal attractive forces on all sides with the surrounding molecules. However, the surface molecules experience a net attractive force downward due to the bulk molecules. The surface of the liquid behaves like a stretched membrane,...
Excess Pressure Inside a Drop and a Bubble
Surface Tension
Surface Tension of Fluid
Surface tension varies with...
Measurement of Fluid Pressure
A basic form of manometer is the piezometer, a vertical tube open at the top and filled with the same...

