Which term refers to the energy required to increase the surface area of a liquid?

• A. Surface tension
• B. Enthalpy
• C. Viscosity
• D. Heat capacity

Answer: (A)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Understand the concept being asked: The problem is asking for the term that describes the energy required to increase the surface area of a liquid.
2. Recall the definitions of the given terms: Enthalpy is the total heat content of a system, viscosity is a measure of a fluid's resistance to flow, and heat capacity is the amount of heat needed to raise the temperature of a substance.
3. Identify the term related to surface phenomena: Surface tension is the property of a liquid that allows it to resist an external force, due to the cohesive nature of its molecules, and it is directly related to the energy needed to increase the surface area.
4. Recognize that surface tension can be quantitatively described as the energy per unit area required to increase the surface area of a liquid.
5. Conclude that the correct term for the energy required to increase the surface area of a liquid is surface tension.