What property of water is described as its ability to cling to other water molecules?

Prepare for the College Biology Placement Test with our comprehensive quiz. Boost your biology knowledge and excel on your exam with carefully crafted multiple-choice questions and instant feedback.

The property being described is cohesion, which refers to the attraction between molecules of the same substance. In the case of water, cohesion allows water molecules to stick to each other due to hydrogen bonding. This property is vital for various biological processes, such as the transport of water in plants through capillary action, where water moves upward against gravity in plant xylem due to cohesive forces.

Understanding cohesion can also help explain phenomena like water droplets forming beads on surfaces and the generation of surface tension, though surface tension itself is a result of cohesion at the interface of water and air. Knowing that water molecules are strongly attracted to each other provides insight into many biological functions and environmental interactions involving water.

Subscribe

Get the latest from Examzify

You can unsubscribe at any time. Read our privacy policy