whyiswaterwet

[annecheshire]

[jake-the-peg]

I assume that this is meant to be a silly frivolous question which is a shame because it's a good one.

If by wet we mean liquid then really it shouldn't be - Two Hydrogens and an Oxygen is quite light - compared to say Carbon Dioxide or Nitrous Oxide both of which are gasses.

The thing about water is that the Oxygen atom attracts electrons strongly meaning that the hydrogens become slightly positively charged whilst it becomes slightly negatively charged. Consequently there are stronger forces between the atoms than you would otherwise expect.

This is hydrogen bonding and is why water is a liquid (wet) at room temperature - which is just as well otherwise we would not be here

[Clanad]

As you suggest, jtp, the question as constructed appears to be frivolous... but on the off chance there's some sincerity within it, added to the fact that you've taken time to clearly explain your position, I'd offer that "wet" is a sensation used to describe something ephemeral sensed by humans. In fact this question has been asked a number of times in the past on this site... with some interesting input.

However, the "sensation" of wetness isn't well supported "only" by your conclusion of "why" water is wet. I offer that, however foolish it might be, if one were to rub one's fingers together dipped in Mercury one would use the same adjectives to describe the "wetness" and it's metallic. Other concoctions can produce the same sensation and therefore I'd offer the explanation that water isn't wet, since that terminology exists only to describe a feeling... no? At any rate... good morning (at least here in the U.S.)...

[jake-the-peg]

Oooh Clanad that's interesting

I'm not sure Mercury would feel "wet"

I don't think it's quite as dangerous as it sounds because whilst mercury compounds and vapour are very dangerous to the health the liquid is not quite so hazardous - In fact people used it as a purgative.

However it is very expensive in quantity and needs proper handling to avoid the vapour getting to you.

I have seen film of a cannon ball being dropped into a bath of mercury and it bounces and floats like a tennis ball in water!

The reason that I'm not sure whether mercury would feel wet is because our skins are permeable to water and I'm don't think they are to mercury. I don't think the mercury would stick to you and evaporate which gives or at least contributes to the feeling of wetness.

I'd be really interested if anybody had any direct experience of this

[rojash]

I hope the original questioner won't mind me adding another here - this is definitely not intended as frivolous.
Why is soft water "wetter" than hard water?
Where we live the water is extremely hard, so that's what I'm used to, but when I'm away from home, and particularly when staying in hotels with softened water, I find that the water feels much "wetter" (and quite unpleasant). It also (but this could just be my imagination) seems to take longer to towel off.

[vascop]

The 'wetness' of water is a related to its surface tension. For example one of the main functions of soap is to reduce surface tension and therefore the 'wetting' ability. Raising the temperature has the same effect. So hot soapy water 'wets' more effectively than cold water without soap