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Molecules in motion
Water molecules as well as binding to each other, bind to many other substances such as glass, cotton, plant tissues, and soils. This is called adhesion. For example, in a thin glass tube, when the molecules at the edge reach for and adhere to the molecules of glass just above them, they at the same time tow other water molecules along with them. The water surface, in turn, pulls the entire body of water to a new level until the downward force of gravity is too great to be overcome. This process is called capillary action.
Thus water readily wets many materials. Capillary action allows a paper towel or a sponge to be used to soak up spilled water. Without this property, the nutrients needed by plants and trees would remain in the soil.
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