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Capillary action of water (polar) compared to mercury (non-polar), in each case with respect to a polar surface such as glass (≡Si–OH). Capillary action (sometimes called capillarity, capillary motion, capillary rise, capillary effect, or wicking) is the process of a liquid flowing in a narrow space without the assistance of external forces like gravity.
Cohesion, along with adhesion (attraction between unlike molecules), helps explain phenomena such as meniscus, surface tension and capillary action. Mercury in a glass flask is a good example of the effects of the ratio between cohesive and adhesive forces.
Adhesion is the tendency of dissimilar particles or surfaces to cling to one another. (Cohesion refers to the tendency of similar or identical particles and surfaces to cling to one another.) The forces that cause adhesion and cohesion can be divided into several types.
Because water has strong cohesive and adhesive forces, it exhibits capillary action. [66] Strong cohesion from hydrogen bonding and adhesion allows trees to transport water more than 100 m upward. [65]
Menisci are a manifestation of capillary action, by which either surface adhesion pulls a liquid up to form a concave meniscus, or internal cohesion pulls the liquid down to form a convex meniscus. This phenomenon is important in transpirational pull in plants.
Illustration of capillary rise and fall. Red=contact angle less than 90°; blue=contact angle greater than 90° If a tube is sufficiently narrow and the liquid adhesion to its walls is sufficiently strong, surface tension can draw liquid up the tube in a phenomenon known as capillary action.
Water potential is the potential energy of water per unit volume relative to pure water in reference conditions. Water potential quantifies the tendency of water to move from one area to another due to osmosis, gravity, mechanical pressure and matrix effects such as capillary action (which is caused by surface tension).
Greater surface tension and increased ratio of adhesion to cohesion also result in greater rise. Synthetic materials using conductive polymer as found in polypyrrole to reduce liquid density to a manageable state. [clarification needed] The force with which water is held by capillary action varies with the quantity of water being held.