Final answer:
Wine leaves a stain on a white tablecloth due to the strong molecular attractions between the wine's ethanol and water molecules and the tablecloth's cellulose fibers.
Step-by-step explanation:
Wine will leave a bad stain on a white tablecloth. This happens because wine, especially red wine, contains ethanol and water, which have strong molecular attractions to the cellulose fibers in the tablecloth. This physical process is similar to how wine wicks up a paper towel because the -OH groups of the cellulose fibers have a strong affinity for the water (and ethanol) molecules. Moreover, if wine is left to oxidize after being opened, it can produce an unpleasant vinegary taste due to the formation of acetic acid, leading to someone noticing the presence of solids in the wine bottle such as crystals formed from insoluble compounds not soluble in the wine.