The potential energy of a molecule increases when it is brought to the surface from the interior of a liquid because

Question

The potential energy of a molecule increases when it is brought to the surface from the interior of a liquid because (A) at the free liquid surface gravitational potential energy is more (B) work has to be done to move a molecule to the surface against the repulsive component of the inter molecular forces (C) work has to be done to move a molecule to the surface against the attraction from Other molecules (D) the temperature of the liquid surface is always more than that of the interior of the liquid

Tardigrade Admin · Accepted Answer

The molecules on the liquid surface experience net downward force. So to bring a molecule from the interior of liquid to the free surface, some work is required to be done against the intermolecular forces of attraction, which will be stored as potential energy of the molecule on the surface.

Q. The potential energy of a molecule increases when it is brought to the surface from the interior of a liquid because

at the free liquid surface gravitational potential energy is more

work has to be done to move a molecule to the surface against the repulsive component of the inter molecular forces

work has to be done to move a molecule to the surface against the attraction from Other molecules

the temperature of the liquid surface is always more than that of the interior of the liquid

The molecules on the liquid surface experience net downward force. So to bring a molecule from the interior of liquid to the free surface, some work is required to be done against the intermolecular forces of attraction, which will be stored as potential energy of the molecule on the surface.