which image is cohesion stronger than adhesion and which image is adhesion stronger than cohesion

Chemistry · Middle School · Thu Feb 04 2021

Answered on

Cohesion:

Definition: Cohesion is the force of attraction between molecules of the same substance. In the context of liquids, it's what causes the molecules in a liquid to be drawn together, resisting separation.

Example: Water molecules are highly cohesive due to hydrogen bonding. This cohesion is why water forms droplets. The molecules at the surface of the water experience an inward pull from other water molecules, creating a "skin" on the water's surface and allowing it to bead up.

In Practice: If you have a glass of water, the water tends to stick together, forming a slightly rounded shape at the top of the glass. This is due to the cohesive forces among water molecules.

Adhesion:

Definition: Adhesion is the force of attraction between molecules of different substances. In the context of liquids, it's what causes a liquid to be attracted to and stick to a surface.

Example: Water adheres to surfaces like glass or plant tissues. This adhesion is why water can climb up a narrow tube, a phenomenon known as capillary action. Adhesion allows water to wet surfaces.

In Practice: If you take a glass tube and dip it into water, you might observe the water level inside the tube to be higher than the water level outside. This is because the water molecules are adhering to the glass, and the adhesive forces are pulling the water up.

Balance Between Cohesion and Adhesion:

  • If cohesion is stronger than adhesion, you might see water forming droplets on surfaces because the cohesive forces within the water are more significant than its attraction to the surface.
  • If adhesion is stronger than cohesion, the liquid will tend to spread out more on the surface because the attractive forces between the liquid and the surface are stronger than the forces holding the liquid together.

These principles have various applications in everyday life, from understanding how liquids behave on different surfaces to phenomena like water transport in plants. The balance between cohesion and adhesion is influenced by the specific properties of the substances involved.