To demonstrate an important distinction between the electrolytes and nonelectrolytes, surface tension of aqueous solutions of typical nonelectrolytes, sucrose and glucose, was measured as a function of temperature and concentration. The presence of sucrose or glucose molecules in the surface region affects the surface tension in the same way as the presence of an ion does. There is, however, a difference in the temperature coefficient of the surface tension between typical nonelectrolyte solutions, sucrose and glucose, and alkali halide solutions. The entropy of surface formation of sucrose and glucose solutions is the same as that of pure water, while that of alkali halide solutions decreases with concentration. The relation between this entropy change and the formation of electric double layers was discussed. (c) 2006 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.