Write a short note on surface free energy.

Que.: Write a short note on surface free energy.

Ans.:

Surface Free Energy:

To move a molecule from the inner layers to the surface work needs to be done against the force of surface tension. Thus, the molecule near the surface of liquid have more potential energy as compared to the bulk of the liquid.

As the surface of the liquid increases more will be the energy since this energy is proportional to the size of the free surface energy.

Each molecule of a liquid has tendency to move inside the liquid from the surface thus minimizing the surface free energy. Thus a Liquid droplet tend to assume a spherical shape since sphere has smallest surface area per unit volume.

Que.: Write a short note on surface free energy.