What happens to the viscosity of a liquid as temperature increases?

As temperature increases, the viscosity of a liquid generally decreases. This phenomenon occurs because higher temperatures provide more kinetic energy to the molecules of the liquid, allowing them to move more freely. As a result, the intermolecular forces that cause resistance to flow become less significant, which leads to a reduction in viscosity.

For example, in the case of water, when it is heated, it flows more easily compared to its state at lower temperatures. This principle applies to many liquids, making the understanding of viscosity temperature dependence crucial in fields like chemical engineering and materials science.