Hi everyone,
I have a question regarding surface and interfacial tension. Although I understand that these tensions are studied for different purposes, can they be considered equivalent in the case of a liquid-gas interface?
From what I understand, in the context of a liquid-gas interface, interfacial tension measures the same force per unit length as surface tension acting along the surface of the liquid. Since there are no additional forces between the liquid and the gas that alter this value, surface tension should be equal to interfacial tension.
Is my reasoning correct?
Thank you for your response.
Yes it is correct, for the liquid-gas phases the interfacial tension is also called surface tension
If my knowledge is correct, the surface tension is a tension between liquid and vapour of the same substance, whereas interfacial tension is a tension between fluid (liquid or gas) and liquid of the different substances.
Yes it is correct but When a razor blade floats on water, three forces are at play, its weight pulling downward, surface tension around its edges pulling tangentially on the water surface, and an upward buoyant force from water molecules. The strong upward force prevents the blade from sinking. So I think it is not necessary for the gaseous phase that it has to be the vapour of the same liquid substance
I'll try to explain it in other way; surface tension is a term for a surface of one substance (one chemical formula) in two phases: liquid and gaseous, e.g. liquid water surrounded by its vapour; whereas interfacial tension is a term for an interface between two different substances, e.g. liquid water and air.
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