Noncoalescing Drops

A pure water drop coalesces almost immediately with a pure water surface. Minute amounts of surfactant can alter this process dramatically. When the drop is released towards the surface of the solution from a certain height smaller than a well defined critical height, the drop of surfactant solution either remains on the surface for a specific time or coalesces immediately. The statistics of the residence time are systematically measured along with the critical heights necessary for coalescence. It turns out that the surface elasticity controls coalescence in such a situation.