Adhesion, Cohesion & Surface Tension

Cohesion refers to the attraction between water molecules, causing them to stick together.

High surface tension is the property that causes water to bead up on surfaces.

Adhesion is the ability of water to stick to other substances.

Adhesion allows water to stick to the surface of leaves, as seen in the example of water droplets on leaves.

Surface tension allows a paperclip to float on water when placed gently on the surface.

Surface tension is the cohesive force at the surface of a liquid that makes it behave like a stretched elastic membrane.

As temperature increases, the surface tension of water decreases.

Hydrogen bonding is responsible for both cohesion (water molecules sticking to each other) and adhesion (water molecules sticking to other substances).

Cohesion allows water molecules to stick together, which, combined with adhesion to the walls of a narrow tube, enables capillary action.

Surface tension is crucial for processes like the movement of water in plants and the formation of cell membranes.