Surface Tension Converter
Convert between 7 units of surface tension — N/m, mN/m, dyn/cm, erg/cm², lbf/ft, lbf/in, and erg/mm².
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About the Surface Tension Converter
Surface tension arises because molecules at a liquid's surface experience an unbalanced net inward force — there are no neighbours above them. This creates a skin-like elastic layer at the surface. The SI unit is newtons per metre (N/m). Surface tension is why water forms spherical droplets, why some insects can walk on water, and why soap is effective at cleaning — it dramatically reduces water's surface tension.
Quick facts
- ›Water has a surface tension of 72.8 mN/m at 20 °C — one of the highest of any liquid
- ›Mercury's surface tension is approximately 485 mN/m — nearly 7× that of water
- ›Soap reduces water's surface tension from ~73 to ~25 mN/m
- ›Surface tension decreases with increasing temperature in almost all liquids
Common uses: Chemical engineering, detergent formulation, inkjet printing, coating processes, biology