Question

Water drops that fall on a smooth surface tend to form rounded drops or beads. Then, if you touch a piece of paper to the drop, water appears to move up into the paper on its own. Explain these observations in terms of the unique properties of water

Answer 1

Water exhibits surface tension and capillary action

Step-by-step explanation:

Surface tension refers to the ability of water surface to act as a stretched elastic membrane. Surface tension is caused by attraction of the particles at the outer layer of the water by molecules in the bulk of the water.

Capillarity refers to the ability of water to move up a column.

The surface tension of water is high due to strong forces of cohesion between water molecules. When the surface tension is broken by the touch of a piece of paper, it can now move up the paper.