Skip to main content

Which of the following is an example of adhesion in organisms?

Adhesion is a property of water and is an attraction that occurs between two different substances such as water and the cell walls of plant cells.


For example, a tree needs to be able to transport water over a long distance from its roots to the leaves at the top of a tree. Water molecules will stick or adhere to the conducting cells in plants called xylem in the process known as adhesion. The water...

Adhesion is a property of water and is an attraction that occurs between two different substances such as water and the cell walls of plant cells.


For example, a tree needs to be able to transport water over a long distance from its roots to the leaves at the top of a tree. Water molecules will stick or adhere to the conducting cells in plants called xylem in the process known as adhesion. The water is attracted to the walls of the xylem tubes.


Cohesion also helps transport water up against the downward force of gravity. This process is due to the polar nature of water molecules and the fact that each molecule can hydrogen-- bond to four additional molecules. This helps water molecules pull up other water molecules below in the xylem tubes creating a column of water that is transported up to the leaves. 


If you observe a spider web outside after it has rained, the water droplets will stick to the spider silk or to blades of grass due to adhesion.


I have attached two links which further illustrate the process of adhesion.

Popular posts from this blog

In chapter one of The Great Gatsby, what advice does Nick's father give him? How does this make him a good person to tell this story?

Nick says that his father advised him that, before "criticizing anyone," he "remember that all the people in this world haven't had the same advantages" as Nick.  As a result, Nick claims that he is "inclined to reserve all judgments," presenting himself to the reader as a fair and dispassionate arbiter of character, and thus, a reliable narrator.   The problem is that Nick immediately reveals himself as anything but reliable, as he then launches... Nick says that his father advised him that, before "criticizing anyone," he "remember that all the people in this world haven't had the same advantages" as Nick.  As a result, Nick claims that he is "inclined to reserve all judgments," presenting himself to the reader as a fair and dispassionate arbiter of character, and thus, a reliable narrator.   The problem is that Nick immediately reveals himself as anything but reliable, as he then launches into a discussion of how pe...

How did the United States become an imperial power?

"Imperial power" is a bit of a vague label. It tends to mean several things at once, so let's unpack it. In the sense of "this country was built on conquest by force," the "imperial power" part of America actually predates the United States proper. The territories that would become the United States were imperial colonies, established by the great European empires of the 17th and 18th centuries. Much of the US Constitution and American governance generally goes back to England, history's largest and most successful imperial power, but vital aspects of American culture come from other imperial powers, such as France and Spain. Much of American culture comes from sources other than the old empires, but they were key influences on what the United States became. In the sense of "this country treats conquest by force as a fundamental component of its culture, economy and politics," the United States has always been an imperial power. Even earl...

How and why does James Gatz become Jay Gatsby? Describe the young Gatsby/Gatz.

James Gatz, a poor Midwestern boy of probable Jewish lineage, becomes Jay Gatsby, a presumed WASP and wealthy socialite, when he moves to New York City and acquires his fortune. It is wealth that has allowed Gatz to transform himself into Gatsby. However, those who know his background (e.g., Daisy and Tom Buchanan) never allow him to forget that he is nouveau riche -- that is, an upstart who has just recently made his fortune,... James Gatz, a poor Midwestern boy of probable Jewish lineage, becomes Jay Gatsby, a presumed WASP and wealthy socialite, when he moves to New York City and acquires his fortune. It is wealth that has allowed Gatz to transform himself into Gatsby. However, those who know his background (e.g., Daisy and Tom Buchanan) never allow him to forget that he is nouveau riche -- that is, an upstart who has just recently made his fortune, whereas they arose from well-to-do families. Gatz became Gatsby through determination and discipline. At the end of the novel, the narr...