Problem: Water (a) "wets" some surfaces and beads up on others. Mercury (b), in contrast, beads up on almost all surfaces.Explain this difference.

FREE Expert Solution

Cohesive force – force between like substances

Adhesive force – force between unlike substances


a) Water

  • adhesive force > cohesive force
  • more attracted to the surface than other water molecules


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Problem Details

Water (a) "wets" some surfaces and beads up on others. Mercury (b), in contrast, beads up on almost all surfaces.

Explain this difference.

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