What is the term for the intermolecular attraction between unlike molecules?

The term for the intermolecular attraction between unlike molecules is adhesion. This phenomenon occurs when molecules of different substances interact with each other. For example, when water molecules are attracted to the molecules of a glass surface, this demonstrates adhesion.

In contrast, cohesion refers specifically to the attraction between like molecules, such as water molecules sticking together. Surface tension arises from cohesive forces at the surface of a liquid, allowing it to resist an external force. Capillarity, also known as capillary action, is the result of both adhesion and cohesion, where liquid rises in a narrow space, such as a tube, due to the adhesive forces with the tube walls and the cohesive forces between the liquid molecules.

Understanding adhesion is crucial in studying how different substances interact in biological and physical processes, including how water moves through plant vessels or how various materials bond.