Question

Explain why water forms into beads on a waxed car finish.

Short answer

Water is a polar molecule, and the wax used in car finish is non-polar. Water and car wax are unlike; the hydrogen bonding in water is much stronger than the forces present between water and wax. Thus, water beads up on the car's surface.

The attraction force in water molecules holds the molecules of water together as a liquid form, and gravity helps hold the water at the bottom of the glass. As a result, the attractive cohesive forces form between the molecules of water and pull themselves together in the form of beads.

Step-by-step solution

Adhesion

Adhesion is the tendency of dissimilar particles or surfaces to cling to one another.

Adhesion may refer to the joining of two different substances due to attractive forces that hold them. For instance, cohesion causes water to form drops, and adhesion keeps the water drops on the surfaces of leaves and flowers in place.

Non-polar molecules

A non-polar molecule has no separation of charge, so no positive or negative poles are formed. When the electrical charges are distributed across the atoms with bonds, it is known as polarity in chemical bonding.

Explanation

Water is a polar molecule, and wax used in car finish is non-polar. Water and car wax are unlike; the hydrogen bonding in water is much stronger than the forces present between water and wax. Thus the water beads up on the car's surface.

The attraction force in water molecules holds the molecules of water together as a liquid form, and gravity helps hold the water at the bottom of the glass. As a result, the attractive cohesive forces formed between the molecules of water pull themselves together in the form of beads.