Question

water can form large dewdrops in nature. how would droplets made of vegetable oil instead of water be different?
a. all liquids will form the same large droplets that water does.
b. oil forms slicks, not droplets, because of its molecular structure.
c. oil would form droplets, but only very tiny ones because its surface tension is lower than that of water.
d. oil can form the same large droplets as water because it has strong intermolecular forces.

Explanation:

Surface tension is a property of liquids that causes the surface to behave like a stretched elastic membrane. Water has relatively high surface tension due to hydrogen bonding between its molecules, which allows it to form large dewdrops. Vegetable oil has lower surface tension than water. Lower surface tension means the liquid is less "pulled" together at the surface. So, oil would form droplets, but only very tiny ones because its surface tension is lower than that of water.

• Option A is incorrect because not all liquids have the same surface tension as water.
• Option B is incorrect as oil can form droplets (though small ones), not just slicks.
• Option D is incorrect because oil does not have strong intermolecular forces like water (which has hydrogen bonding).

Answer:

C. Oil would form droplets, but only very tiny ones because its surface tension is lower than that of water.