Answer:
Cohesion and adhesion are two properties of water that contribute to the formation of water droplets and their ability to stick to surfaces.
Cohesion refers to the attraction between water molecules themselves. Water molecules are polar, meaning that they have a positive end and a negative end. The positive end of one water molecule is attracted to the negative end of another water molecule, creating a force that holds them together. This cohesive force helps water molecules to stick together, forming drops.
Adhesion, on the other hand, is the attraction between water molecules and other substances, such as the molecules on the surface of an object. The polarity of water molecules allows them to form hydrogen bonds with molecules on various surfaces. This causes the water droplets to "stick" or adhere to those surfaces.
When water is in droplet form, cohesion helps keep the water molecules tightly packed together, forming a spherical shape. Additionally, adhesion allows the water droplets to adhere to surfaces, such as leaves, glass, or other objects. This is why you often see water droplets sticking to a surface rather than spreading out.
Both cohesion and adhesion work together to create the surface tension of water, which is the elastic-like property displayed by the surface of a liquid. Surface tension allows water drops to maintain their spherical shape and resist spreading out on a surface.
In summary, cohesion attracts water molecules to each other, enabling the formation of water droplets, while adhesion allows the water droplets to stick to surfaces by forming hydrogen bonds with the molecules on those surfaces.