The magnitude of surface tension of liquid depends on the attractive forces between the molecules. Arrange the following in increasing order of surface tension : water, alcohol and hexane
The molecules above are of water, alcohol, and hexane. Here water and alcohol are polar and have dipole-dipole interaction and intermolecular hydrogen bonding, whereas hexane is non-polar and has weak London dispersion forces.
H-bonding is stronger in water; hence, surface tension is also more in water than alcohol. Therefore, Hexane < Alcohol < Water.