What is the tendency of water to rise upward in narrow tubes or be drawn into small spaces called?

1 Answer
Nov 28, 2016

Capillary action.

Explanation:

Capillary action is the ability of a liquid to rise against gravity in a narrow tube or into a small space through a narrow opening.

This takes place because of the forces of cohesion (attraction between molecules of the same substance) and adhesion (attraction between molecules of different substances).

In the case of water rising in narrow tubes or through narrow openings, the water molecules adhere to the surface of the tube and cohere to each other, thereby pulling each other up the tube.