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Question
which best explains the surface tension of water?
○ capillary action
○ cohesion
○ adhesion
○ sublimation
Surface tension is the tendency of liquid surfaces to shrink into the minimum surface area possible. Cohesion refers to the attraction between molecules of the same substance; water molecules are strongly cohesive due to hydrogen bonding, which creates a "skin-like" effect at the surface that is surface tension. Capillary action is a result of both cohesion and adhesion, adhesion is attraction between different substances, and sublimation is a phase change from solid to gas, none of which directly explain surface tension.
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cohesion