Question

One of water's unique properties is it has strong surface tension. What do you predict would happen if water had weak surface tension? (A) Insects wouldn't be able to land or walk on water. (B) Plants wouldn't be able to draw water from the ground through their roots. (C) Water molecules would attract each other. (D) Water would only be able to dissolve nonpolar substances. [I think A or B?]

Answer 1

The correct answer is (B) Plants wouldn't be able to draw water from the ground through their roots.

Surface tension is the result of cohesion in water molecules. This cohesion is because of the pressence of hydrogen bonds which makes the water molecules attached to each other. This property is helpful for plants to uptake water from the grounds through their roots. As gravity acts on water, and surface tension will be weak the plants would not be able to uptake water.