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Multiple Choice
When water molecules are attracted to one another and stick to each other, it is called:
A
Adhesion
B
Cohesion
C
Capillarity
D
Surface tension
Verified step by step guidance
1
Step 1: Begin by understanding the key terms provided in the problem. Adhesion refers to the attraction between water molecules and other substances, such as the walls of a container or plant tissues. Cohesion refers to the attraction between water molecules themselves.
Step 2: Recognize that water molecules exhibit cohesion due to hydrogen bonding. Hydrogen bonds form between the slightly positive hydrogen atoms of one water molecule and the slightly negative oxygen atoms of another water molecule.
Step 3: Surface tension is a result of cohesion. It occurs because water molecules at the surface experience a net inward force due to cohesive interactions, creating a 'film-like' effect on the surface.
Step 4: Capillarity, or capillary action, involves both adhesion and cohesion. It is the ability of water to move through narrow spaces, such as in plant xylem, due to adhesive forces with the walls and cohesive forces between water molecules.
Step 5: Based on the definitions and explanations, identify that the attraction between water molecules sticking to each other is specifically referred to as cohesion.