behaviour+of+surfaces+and+the+application+of+surface+chemistry+in+nanotechnology


 * //Behaviour of surfaces and the application of surface chemistry in nanotechnology// **


 * Videos**

Surface tension of liquids || media type="custom" key="23353128" How small is a nanoparticle? || media type="custom" key="23353238" The risks associated with carbon nanotubes ||
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 * Common Misconceptions:**
 * Because water is a liquid, it has relatively low surface tension.
 * Nanoparticles are just reduced sizes of 'life-sized' objects.
 * All forms of nanotechnology are dangerous to human health.

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 * Interesting Facts:**
 * Surface tension is the surface energy of a liquid.
 * Water 'wets' glass better than polyethene, because glass is hydrophilic.
 * Surface properties control many aspects of the behaviour of materials.
 * Unlike particles within a material, there is an overall inward attraction on the surface particles towards the centre of the material.
 * Some insects, like the water boatman, can 'walk' on the surface of the water, because the inward force on the molecules at the surface prevents the insect from penetrating it.
 * Gold nanoparticles may find a use in home pregnancy test kits. Pregnancy hormones cause these particles to clump together to form larger particles. As the larger particles reflect light of a different colour, a colour change would indicate that a woman is pregnant.
 * Many of the health concerns related to nanotechnology are about nanoparticles, which may enter the environment via the air or water and be inhaled or ingested. However, nanoelectronics is very different because these electronic components aren't airborne (they are fabricated on a semiconductor chip).


 * Resources:**
 * **Understanding nanotechnology from CSIRO.**
 * **Teacher's guide to surface tension from The WaterCAMPWS.**
 * **The National Nanotechnology Initiative.**
 * **Nanotechnology resources for teachers and students from UnderstandingNano.**
 * **Nanotechnology news from Science Daily.**