Theory of surface tension for molecular fluids

Abstract

The Kirkwood-Buff statistical mechanical theory of surface tension γ for monatomic fluids is extended to molecular fluids. A rigorous expression for γ is derived in terms of the angular pair distribution function f(z ₁ R ₁₂θ₁θ₂) of an equilibrium fluid-fluid system (liquid-gas, liquid-liquid, or gas-gas). The Fowler approximation is applied for the liquid-gas case, and a simple expression for γ is derived in terms of the bulk liquid angular pair correlation function g(R ₁₂θ₁θ₂). Thermodynamic perturbation theory for g(R ₁₂θ₁θ₂) is also used to calculate γ theoretically. The theoretical results are compared with experimental values.