Which of the following effects is produced by the high surface tension of water?

• A. Water boils at a lower temperature than expected.
• B. Water molecules have weak hydrogen bonding.
• C. Water droplets form nearly spherical shapes on surfaces.
• D. Water easily mixes with nonpolar solvents.

Answer: (C)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Understand what surface tension is: Surface tension is a property of the liquid surface that makes it behave like a stretched elastic membrane. It arises because molecules at the surface experience a net inward force due to cohesive interactions with molecules below the surface.
2. Recognize that water has a high surface tension because of strong hydrogen bonding between water molecules. These hydrogen bonds create a strong cohesive force at the surface.
3. Analyze the options given: High surface tension causes water to minimize its surface area, which leads to the formation of droplets with shapes that have the least surface area for a given volume — a sphere.
4. Relate this to the correct effect: Water droplets forming nearly spherical shapes on surfaces is a direct consequence of water's high surface tension.
5. Understand why the other options are incorrect: Water boiling at a lower temperature than expected is unrelated to surface tension; water molecules actually have strong hydrogen bonding, not weak; and water does not easily mix with nonpolar solvents because of polarity differences, not surface tension.