Hydrosphere Contents

2. Properties Of Water

Surface tension

Surface tension of water is high. This property allow water to form distinct droplets such as these.

The surface tension of water is very high. The surface tension properties of water is responsible for the shape of liquid water droplets and for the droplet formation in clouds. In general the water that is evaporated is "pure" water with very few dissolved ions or molecules. As the water vapour rises, it cools and forms clouds. In practice water in the atmosphere tends to condense on a particle or nucleus. The nuclei promote condensation which only requires 102% relative humidity while in an atmosphere with no nuclei 800% relative humidity could exist before the condensation occurred.

What is significant about the surface tension of water?