Final answer:
Surface tension is the force that happens due to water sticking to itself and creating a force or film on the surface. It is a property that results from the cohesive forces between molecules at the surface of a liquid. Water exhibits a distinctly high surface tension due to the strong hydrogen bonding between its molecules.
Step-by-step explanation:
Surface tension is the force that happens due to water sticking to itself and creating a force or film on the surface. It is defined as the energy required to increase the surface area of a liquid, or the force required to increase the length of a liquid surface by a given amount. It is a property that results from the cohesive forces between molecules at the surface of a liquid, causing it to behave like a stretched rubber membrane.
Water exhibits a distinctly high surface tension due to the strong hydrogen bonding between its molecules. This high surface tension allows the surface of water to represent a relatively 'tough skin' that can withstand considerable force without breaking. Examples of this include a steel needle floating on water or insects moving on the surface of water.