Cavity thermodynamics and surface tension of water

Abstract

It is widely recognized that the air–water surface tension plays a role for the solubility of nonpolar gases in water. In particular, the work of cavity creation is considered to be governed by the large air–water surface tension. This relationship is investigated by calculating the cavity thermodynamics at room temperature on the basis of a direct proportionality between the work of cavity creation and the air–water surface tension. The obtained cavity entropy change is always positive regardless of the cavity size, in marked contrast with well established results from computer simulations and theoretical approaches.