Answer: Molecules along the surface of a liquid behave differently than those in the bulk liquid.
Cohesive forces attract the molecules of the liquid to one another.
Water forming a droplet as it falls from a faucet is a primary example of surface tension.
Explanation:
Surface tension is the net downward force acting on the surface of liquids due to the cohesive nature of liquids.
Water molecules are bonded by strong hydrogen bonding between the hydrogen atom and the electronegative oxygen atom. The water molecules present on the surface are strongly attracted by the molecules present below the surface by cohesive forces and thus act as a stretched membrane. The molecules present in the bulk are attracted from all the molecules around and thus the net force is zero.
Mercury has more stronger cohesive forces than water and thus has higher surface tension than water
The surface acquires a minimum surface are and thus acquire a spherical shape.