Final answer:
Surface tension causes water to curve due to the cohesive forces between water molecules, primarily from hydrogen bonding that creates a tightened surface. The correct option is A.
Step-by-step explanation:
The surface tension of water is caused by the attraction between water molecules, which is known as cohesion. Cohesive forces between molecules cause the surface of the water to contract, creating a curved shape or meniscus. This is due to the molecules at the surface being pulled into the liquid by the surrounding molecules. Surface tension causes water to curve due to cohesive forces, specifically the attraction between water molecules.
At the surface, water molecules are pulled together and downwards by the cohesive forces, creating a tightened surface like a film. This effect is largely due to the hydrogen bonding in water, which is a type of strong intermolecular force. Hydrogen bonding gives water a high surface tension when compared to liquids that cannot hydrogen bond. As a result, this tension causes the curved meniscus when water is in a thin column, such as in a graduated cylinder or a buret.