Cohesion in water refers to the ability of water molecules to stick together due to their polar nature and the hydrogen bonds they form. This property is responsible for surface tension, which is the tendency of a liquids surface to resist rupture when placed under tension or stress/02%3A_The_Chemical_Foundation_of_Life/2.16%3A_Water_-Cohesive_and_Adhesive_Properties). Water molecules at the surface will form hydrogen bonds with their neighbors, just like water molecules deeper within the liquid. Cohesion is also why water forms droplets when placed on a dry surface rather than being flattened out by gravity/02%3A_The_Chemical_Foundation_of_Life/2.16%3A_Water-_Cohesive_and_Adhesive_Properties).
Cohesion is related to waters property of adhesion, which is the attraction between water molecules and other molecules/02%3A_The_Chemical_Foundation_of_Life/2.16%3A_Water_-Cohesive_and_Adhesive_Properties). Adhesion is observed when water "climbs" up a tube placed in a glass of water/02%3A_The_Chemical_Foundation_of_Life/2.16%3A_Water-Cohesive_and_Adhesive_Properties). These cohesive and adhesive forces are important for the transport of water and dissolved minerals in plants/02%3A_The_Chemical_Foundation_of_Life/2.16%3A_Water-_Cohesive_and_Adhesive_Properties).
