What describes the measure of how difficult it is to stretch or break the surface of a liquid?

• A. Surface Tension
• B. Capillary Action
• C. Specific Heat Capacity
• D. Universal Solvent

Answer: (A)

Surface tension is the measure of how difficult it is to stretch or break the surface of a liquid. It comes from cohesive forces among surface molecules, which create a thin, elastic-like film at the air–water interface that resists external deformation. This resistance is why water forms droplets and why some insects can skim the surface.

The other terms don’t describe this surface property: capillary action is about how liquids rise or fall in narrow tubes due to cohesion and adhesion, not the intrinsic surface resistance; specific heat capacity is about how much energy is needed to raise a liquid’s temperature; and universal solvent refers to a liquid’s ability to dissolve many substances.