The oxygen atom has a strong attraction and this has to be a characteristic of the atom. The hydrogen has to be covalently bonded to the atom. In water the four corners establish hydrogen bonds with four other molecules. A single hydrogen bond is weaker than either a covalent or ionic bond but in liquid water, as soon as a bond breaks, another one is formed. C. Characteristics 1.
Water exhibits the characteristic of surface tension.
The clinging together of the water molecules is called cohesion. The clinging together of water with molecules other than water is adhesion. It has the ability to exhibit capillary action. This is the ability to rise up in a tube or blotting paper. It also exhibits imbibition, the capillary movement of water into substances which will swell as a result.