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U3Surface Tension and Interfacial Tension

This document discusses interfaces between phases and methods of measuring surface and interfacial tensions. It covers the following key points: 1. Surface tension and interfacial tension are forces that exist at boundaries between phases like liquid-gas or liquid-liquid interfaces. 2. Common methods to measure these tensions include the capillary rise method, ring tensiometer, and drop weight method. 3. The spreading coefficient compares the work of adhesion between two substances to the work of cohesion within substances, and predicts whether one will spread over the other at their interface.

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Siddhant Banwat
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222 views16 pages

U3Surface Tension and Interfacial Tension

This document discusses interfaces between phases and methods of measuring surface and interfacial tensions. It covers the following key points: 1. Surface tension and interfacial tension are forces that exist at boundaries between phases like liquid-gas or liquid-liquid interfaces. 2. Common methods to measure these tensions include the capillary rise method, ring tensiometer, and drop weight method. 3. The spreading coefficient compares the work of adhesion between two substances to the work of cohesion within substances, and predicts whether one will spread over the other at their interface.

Uploaded by

Siddhant Banwat
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PPT, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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1
 Interface is the boundary between two or more phases
exist together
 The properties of the molecules forming the interface are
different from those in the bulk that these molecules are
forming an interfacial phase.
 Several types of interface can exist depending on whether
the two adjacent phases are in solid, liquid or gaseous state.
 Important of Interfacial phenomena in pharmacy:
 Adsorption of drugs onto solid adjuncts in dosage forms
 Penetration of molecules through biological membranes
 Emulsion formation and stability
 The dispersion of insoluble particles in liquid media to form
2
suspensions.
LIQUID INTERFACES
Surface and Interfacial Tensions
In the liquid state, the cohesive forces between
adjacent molecules are well developed.

For the molecules in the bulk of a liquid


They are surrounded in all directions by other molecules for
which they have an equal attraction.
For the molecules at the surface (at the liquid/air interface)
 Only attractive cohesive forces with other liquid molecules
which are situated below and adjacent to them.
 They can develop adhesive forces of attraction with the
molecules of the other phase in the interface
 The net effect is that the molecules at the surface of the
liquid experience an inward force towards the bulk of the
liquid and pull the molecules and contract the surface with
a force F . 3
To keep the equilibrium, an equal force must be applied to
oppose the inward tension in the surface.
Thus SURFACE TENSION [γ ] is the force per unit length that must
be applied parallel to the surface so as to counterbalance the net
inward pull and has the units of dyne/cm
INTERFACIAL TENSION is the force per unit length existing at the
interface between two immiscible liquid phases and has the units
of dyne/cm.
Invariably, interfacial tensions are less than surface tensions
because an adhesive forces, between the two liquid phases
forming the interface are greater than when a liquid and a gas
phase exist together.
If two liquids are completely miscible, no interfacial tension exists
between them.
Greater surface tension reflects higher intermolecular force of
attraction, thus, increase in hydrogen bonds or molecular weight
4
cause increase in ST
The work W required to create a unit area of surface is
known as SURFACE FREE ENERGY/UNIT AREA (ergs/cm2)
erg = dyne . cm
Its equivalent to the surface tension γ
W=γ∆A
Thus the greater the area A of interfacial
contact between the phases, the greater the free energy.

For equilibrium, the surface free energy


of a system must be at a minimum.
Thus Liquid droplets tend to assume a
spherical shape since a sphere has the
smallest surface area per unit volume.

5
Methods for measuring surface and interfacial tension
1- Capillary rise method
2- Ring (Du Nouy) tensiometer
3- Drop weight method (Stalagmometer)

The choice of the method for measuring surface

and interfacial tension depend on:

 Whether surface or interfacial tension is to be determined.

 The accuracy desired

 The size of sample.


6
Capillary Rise Method
The Principle
When a capillary tube is placed in a liquid, it
rises up the tube a certain distance. By measuring
this rise, it is possible to determine the surface
tension of the liquid. It is not possible, to obtain
interfacial tensions using the capillary rise
method.
 Cohesive force is the force existing between like
mole­cules in the surface of a liquid
Adhesive force is the force existing between
unlike molecules, such as that between a liquid
and the wall of a glass capillary tube
 When the force of Adhesion is greater than the
cohesion, the liquid is said to wet the capillary
wall, spreading over it, and rising in the tube. 7
If a capillary tube of inside radius =r immersed in a liquid
that wet its surface, the liquid continues to rise in the tube
due to the surface tension, until the upward movement is
just balanced by the downward force of gravity due to the
weight of the liquid
The upward component of the force resulting from
the surface tension of the liquid at any point on the
circumference is given by: Cont. angle
a = γ cos Ө water and glass

Thus the total upward force around the inside


circumference of the tube is
a = 2 π r γ cos Ө
Where
Ө = the contact angle between the surface of the
liquid and the capillary wall
2 π r = the inside circumference of the capillary.
For water the angle Ө is insignificant, i.e. the liquid
wets the capillary wall so that cos Ө = unity Cont. angle
Mercury and8 glass
The downward force of gravity
(mass x acceleration) is given by
πr 2
h (p – p o) g + w
Where:
πr 2 = the cross-sectional area
h = the height of the liquid column to
the lowest point of the meniscus
(p – p o) = the difference in the density of the
liquid p and its vapor po
g = the acceleration of gravity
w = the weight of the upper part of the meniscus.

At Maximum height, the opposing forces are in equilibrium


2 π r γ cos Ө = π r 2
h (p – p o) g + w

p o, Ө and w can usually be disregarded


Hence the surface tension can be calculated.
2 π rγ = πr 2
hpg γ = 1/2 r h p g
9
Ring (Du Nouy) Tensiometer
 For measuring surface and interfacial tensions.
The principle
 the principle of the instrument depends on the fact that:
the force necessary to detach a platinum-iridium ring
immersed at the surface or interface is proportional to the
surface or interfacial tension.
 The force of detachment is recorded in dynes
on a calibrated dial
 The surface tension is given by:
γ = F / 2 π (R1 + R2)
Where:
F = the detachment force
R1 and R 2= the inner and outer radii of the ring.

10
Drop Weight and drop volume method
If the volume or weight of a drop as it is detached
from a tip of known radius is determined, the surface
and interfacial tension can be calculated from
γ = Φ mg = Φ V pg
πr 2πr2
Where m = the mass of the drop
V = the volume of the drop
p = the density of the liquid
r = the radius of the tip
g = the acceleration due to gravity
Φ = a correction factor
The correction factor is required as not all
the drop leaves the tip on detachment
The tip must be wetted by the liquid so as
the drop doesn’t climb the outside of the tube. 11
When a liquid is placed on the surface of other liquid, it will
spread as a film if the adhesion force is greater than the
cohesive forces.

12
As surface or interfacial work is equal to surface
tension multiplied by the area increment.
The work of cohesion, which is the energy required to
separate the molecules of the spreading liquid so as it can
flow over the sub-layer=
Wc = 2 γ L
Where 2 surfaces each with a surface tension = γ L

The work of adhesion, which is the energy required to break


the attraction between the unlike molecules=
Wa = γ L + γ S - γ LS
Where: γ L =the surface tension of the spreading liquid
γ S =the surface tension of the sub­layer liquid
γ LS =the interfacial tension between the two liquids.
Spreading occurs if the work of adhesion is greater than the
work of cohesion, i.e. Wa > Wc or Wa - Wc > 0 13
Spreading Coefficient is The difference between
the work of adhesion and the work of cohesion
S = Wa - Wc = (γ L + γ S - γ LS ) - 2 γ L
S = γ S - γ L - γ LS
S = γ S – (γ L + γ LS )
Spreading occurs (S is positive) when the surface tension
of the sub-layer liquid is greater than the sum of the surface
tension of the spreading liquid and the interfacial tension
between the sub-layer and the spreading liquid.
If (γ L + γ LS ) is larger than YS , (S is negative) the substance
forms globules or a floating lens and fails to spread over the
surface.

14
Liquid Substrate
Factor affecting Spreading Coefficient

Molecular Structural:
o The greater the polarity of the molecule the more positive [S]
as ethyl alcohol and propionic acid
o Non polar substances as Liquid petrolatum have negative [S] fail
to spread on water
o For organic acids, as Oleic acid,
the longer the carbon chain decrease in polar character decrease [S]
o Some oils can spread over water because they contain polar groups
as COOH and OH

Cohesive forces:
Benzene spreads on water not because it is polar but
because the cohesive forces between its molecules are much
weaker than the adhesion for water. 15
Application of Spreading coefficient in pharmacy

 The requirement of film coats to be spreaded over the


tablet surfaces

 The requirement of lotions with mineral oils to spread on


the skin by the addition of surfactants

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