The attraction between like molecules that contributes to water's surface tension is known as?

• A. Adhesion
• B. Surface tension
• C. Capillarity
• D. Cohesion

Answer: (D)

Cohesion. The attraction between like molecules—water molecules sticking to each other via hydrogen bonding—pulls surface molecules inward, creating a tight, skin-like layer at the surface. This gives water its surface tension. Adhesion is the attraction to other substances, capillarity involves both cohesion and adhesion in moving water through narrow spaces, and surface tension is the resulting property produced by cohesive forces. So the like-molecule attraction that contributes to water’s surface tension is cohesion.