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...These molecules have unbalanced forces such that they have net force in downward direction. Thus they have practically least entropy and maximum potential energy. Water molecules at the surface are pulled inwards such that the surface is compressed with minimum surface area. Thus every molecule on the surface of water have its intrinsic tendency to move below to enjoy maximum entropy. (Spontaneous process) This tendency leads to the surface of water to have minimum surface area.(Definition of surface tension) Hence most of the surface tension is due to tendency of their surface molecules to gain maximum entropy....

I copy this citation from the internet site Quora. Does anyone agree with this reasoning?

Is entropy increase the driving force of surface tension?

I am not asking for a yes or no. Any comment, amswer or link will be useful.

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    $\begingroup$ Have a read of this, if you haven't already...en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Surface_tension 3/4 of the page down, surface tension is dealt with in thermodynamic /entropy terms $\endgroup$ – user140606 Jan 9 '17 at 20:46
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    $\begingroup$ As noted by @TáMéCeart, one has to dig a bit deeper in to the thermodynamics. Asking if I agree with the reasoning in some random passage on the internet probably doesn't get you anywhere. Is entropy increase the sole driving force? No. $\endgroup$ – Jon Custer Jan 9 '17 at 22:26
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    $\begingroup$ @TáMéCeart Yes, the answer is a duplicate. I don't press anyone. I will put a bounty, instead. $\endgroup$ – veronika Jan 10 '17 at 7:51
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    $\begingroup$ Surface tension is the free energy (per unit area), in other words it has both an enthalpy and an entropy contribution, so Jon is right. $\endgroup$ – lemon Jan 10 '17 at 11:10
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    $\begingroup$ I wouldn't use entropy as driven force; it is only used for making a judgement if a process is possible. The driven force will be Newton's principal, minimum potential principal, and its thermodynamic equivalent free Gibbs energy. $\endgroup$ – user115350 Jan 10 '17 at 18:50

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