Why is water sticky?

Answer 1

The "stickiness" of water on the molecular level is due to something called intermolecular forces, specifically hydrogen bonding in the case of water.

In a single molecule of water (an oxygen bonded to two hydrogens), there are two covalent bonds in which electrons are shared. But the electrons between hydrogen and oxygen are not shared equally: oxygen is more electronegative and thus exerts a greater pull on electrons. As a result, the oxygen is slightly negative (due to its pull of negative electrons) and the hydrogens are slightly positive (due to the lack of electrons). In technical terms, this is called a dipole moment.

Because the oxygen of one water molecule is slightly negative and the hydrogen of another water molecule is slightly positive, they will attract each other. This attraction is called a hydrogen bond. Because there is a force pulling the two molecules together, additional force is required to pull them appart. This force is what makes water "sticky."

Answer 2

You probably mean "cohesion." Water has very strong cohesion because of its hydrogen bonds. Water is polar--that is, the water molecule has a partially positive side and a partially negative side due to its asymmetric structure. The partially positive hydrogens on one molecule are weakly attracted to the partially negative oxygen on another molecule. This makes liquid water "stick" together electrically.

This is also the phenomenon behind "surface tension;" there aren't as many molecules at the surface of a liquid as within the liquid, so they bond together more strongly.

A similar effect is "adhesion," which makes water stick to things other than itself. This has less to do with hydrogen bonding.

Answer 3

Water is not sticky, many the reason your water is sticky is because it is dirty.

Answer 4

because its bonds (two bonds between O and H) are highly polar (33% ionic) and thus it creates hydrogen bonds and electrostatic interactions with other polar molecules.

Answer 5

Cohesive properties