What is the attraction between different substances known as?

The attraction between different substances is known as adhesion. This phenomenon occurs when molecules of one substance are attracted to molecules of another substance. For example, when water is placed on a glass surface, the water molecules adhere to the glass due to the attractive forces between the polar water molecules and the polar surface of the glass.

Adhesion is important in various biological and ecological processes. For instance, it enables capillary action, which allows water to move upwards in plants from the roots to the leaves. This interaction plays a crucial role in the transport of nutrients and water in living organisms.

The other concepts mentioned are related but describe different types of attractions. Surface tension refers to the cohesive forces between liquid molecules at the surface, creating a "film" that resists external force. Hydrogen bonding is a specific type of intermolecular attraction that occurs between molecules that have hydrogen atoms bonded to highly electronegative atoms like oxygen or nitrogen. Cohesion describes the attraction between molecules of the same substance, which is fundamentally different from adhesion.