This phenomenon generates surface tension, an elastic "skin" that allows the liquid to resist external force. However, molecules at the surface lack neighbors above them, creating an imbalance that pulls them inward.
Understanding London Forces in Nonpolar Liquids
Viscosity: The Resistance to Flow Not all liquids pour at the same rate; this disparity is quantified by viscosity, a measure of a fluid's internal resistance to flow. Surface tension explains why water forms droplets, enables insects to walk on ponds, and drives capillarity—the ability of a liquid to flow in narrow spaces without external assistance.
Molecular Dance: Intermolecular Forces and Kinetic Energy At the microscopic level, the liquid state exists in a narrow corridor between the solid and gaseous phases. Conversely, cooling a liquid usually makes it thicker and more resistant to flow, a principle observed in everything from engine oil to molten metal.
Understanding London Forces in Nonpolar Liquids
Unlike a rigid solid, a liquid yields to shear stress, yet unlike a gas, it maintains a fixed volume, refusing to expand to fill its container. However, because these molecules possess enough kinetic energy to overcome the majority of their mutual attractions, they can slide past one another.
More About What makes a liquid a liquid
Looking at What makes a liquid a liquid from another angle can help expand the discussion and give readers a second clear paragraph under the same section.
More perspective on What makes a liquid a liquid can make the topic easier to follow by connecting earlier points with a few simple takeaways.
