Final answer:
Wetted describes the spread of a liquid over a surface when the adhesive forces with the surface are stronger than the liquid's cohesive forces. This is a critical concept in understanding wetlands and liquid interactions with surfaces.
Step-by-step explanation:
The term wetted refers to the condition where a liquid, such as water, spreads out over a surface due to the adhesive forces between the liquid and the surface being stronger than the cohesive forces within the liquid itself.
This concept is essential when discussing phenomena like the saturation of wetlands, where water covers the soil for at least one season of the year, providing a unique habitat for plants that thrive in water-logged conditions. The term wetted is also important in explaining how liquids interact with different surfaces, which is significant in various scientific and engineering applications.