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Thread: Reduction in surface tension.

  1. #1
    saekeaton64 Guest

    Reduction in surface tension.

    While doing a search I ran across this article.

    (Question - Why does the surface tension of water decrease on adding
    detergents? What is the phenomenon behind decrease in surface tension of
    water?

    In the solid and liquid phase, water molecules are bonded to each other by
    virtue of an interaction between hydrogen atoms on one molecule and the
    oxygen atom of another -- the process is referred to as "hydrogen bonding."
    The result is a kind of "skin" on liquid water's surface.

    Soaps and detergents have a polar head to which water is attracted and a
    non-polar tail that is hydrophobic -- water repelling. When these substances
    are present, they weaken the strength of the skin by interfering with
    hydrogen bonding between water molecules because the polar end of the soap
    or detergent is also attracted to the water.

    "The surface tension of a liquid is defined as the energy required to
    break through the surface. Liquids in which there are strong molecular
    interactions, such as water, typically have high surface tensions. Surface
    tension accounts for the spherical shape of liquid drops. The surface
    molecules of a liquid are pulled sideways, but attractions from underneath
    also pull them down into the liquid. This pulling of surface molecules into
    the liquid causes the surface to contract and become as small as possible.
    Guess which geometrical shape has the least surface for a given volume?
    That's right-a sphere. So we see why raindrops, drops of oil, and falling
    drops of molten metal are all spherical.
    The surface tension of water is dramatically reduced by the addition of
    soap or detergent. Soap or detergent molecules tend to aggregate at the
    surface of the water, where their non-polar tails stick out away from the
    water. At the surface, these molecules interfere with the dipole-dipole
    interactions among water molecules, thereby reducing surface tension, often
    as much as 90 percent.")

    My thought is, if you would add a small amount of detergent to the electrolyte solution it may greatly increase the production of HHO.

    What do you think?

  2. #2
    Join Date
    May 2008
    Posts
    713
    Cant hurt to try, be wary of the chemicals released though, electrolysis has a tendency to break the bonds released hazardous chemicals from what ever is added.
    2006 Ram, 5.9 cummins HO. 4 cell design, 1.5 LPM@30amp, 24.3 MPG

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