ANS:B - decreases

With an increase in temperature, the surface tension of water decreases. Explanation: Surface tension is the property of a liquid that allows it to resist an external force and minimize its surface area. In the case of water, surface tension is primarily due to the cohesive forces between water molecules. As temperature increases, the kinetic energy of water molecules also increases. This increased kinetic energy disrupts the cohesive forces between water molecules at the surface, causing them to overcome the cohesive forces more readily and reducing the surface tension. Essentially, higher temperature leads to greater molecular motion, which weakens the intermolecular attractions responsible for surface tension. Therefore, as temperature increases, the surface tension of water decreases. This relationship holds true for water over a wide range of temperatures, though it's important to note that other factors such as impurities or dissolved substances can also influence surface tension to some extent.