Final answer:
Three properties of water help the xylem in transporting water: cohesion, adhesion, and capillary action.
Step-by-step explanation:
Three properties of water help the xylem in transporting water from the root to the edge of the leaves:
- Cohesion: Water molecules have a tendency to stick together due to hydrogen bonding. This cohesion allows water to form a continuous column within the xylem vessels, helping to pull water upward against gravity.
- Adhesion: Water molecules also have the ability to adhere to the walls of the xylem vessels. This adhesion helps counterbalance the force of gravity and prevent the water column from breaking.
- Capillary action: The narrow diameter of the xylem vessels creates a capillary effect, similar to water rising in a narrow tube. This capillary action helps to pull water up the xylem, aiding in the upward movement of water from the roots to the leaves.