Surface Tension - Experiment

Set up of the experiment:

Water basin, blotting paper, pin, dishwashing liquid

The Experiment:

The piece of blotting paper is put on the water surface and the pin is placed on top of it. Finally, a drop of dishwashing liquid is poured into the water.

Observation:

The blotting paper alone floats on the surface, but as soon as the pin is put on top of it, the paper sinks and the pin remains floating on the surface.
As soon as dishwashing liquid is added, the pin sinks as well.

Conclusion:

The surface tension is able to carry either the paper or the pin. The dishwashing liquid destroys the surface tension.