Explanation:
Water has a relatively high surface tension, which causes it to form spherical droplets when it is not confined. When water seeps into cracks in rocks and freezes, it expands by about 9%. The expansion of the water creates pressure within the cracks, which can cause them to widen. This process, called frost wedging, is one of the main ways that rocks are broken down into smaller pieces.
The surface tension of water is caused by the strong attraction between water molecules. These attractions create a surface layer that acts like a stretched elastic membrane. The surface tension of water is what allows water droplets to form and why water beads up on surfaces.
The high surface tension of water makes it difficult for water molecules to escape from a surface. This property is also what makes water such an effective solvent. Water molecules can dissolve a wide variety of substances because they are attracted to both the polar and nonpolar molecules that make up these substances.
