Does entropy increase behind surface tension?

AI Thread Summary
Minimizing the surface area of a liquid can lead to entropic gain, as molecules experience maximum entropy when situated in the interior. Surface tension is directly linked to the Helmholtz energy's partial derivative concerning surface area, indicating that a reduction in surface area correlates with increased total entropy in constant-volume scenarios. This relationship suggests that the system's thermodynamic properties are optimized when surface area is minimized. The discussion emphasizes the interplay between surface tension and entropy in liquid systems. Understanding this connection is crucial for applications in thermodynamics and material science.
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Is there any entropic gain when the surface of a liquid is minimised? Per example, molecules "enjoy" maximum entropy when they are at the interior. Is this valid?
 
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Surface tension is related to the partial derivative of Helmholtz energy with respect to surface area of an interface, which means that minimizing the surface area also maximizes total entropy in a constant-volume process.
 
hilbert2 said:
Surface tension is related to the partial derivative of Helmholtz energy with respect to surface area of an interface, which means that minimizing the surface area also maximizes total entropy in a constant-volume process.

Thank you very much
 
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