Is Water Wet |

IS WATER WET?

There are different sides to the argument but it is widely seen that water isn’t wet because it’s a liquid that wets things.

However that doesn’t stop the debate from ravaging all over the internet. We as humans can’t live without water, it’s probably the most important component of our planet so naturally it’s a fascinating topic to discuss with endless possibilities.

There are many different reasons for people to take a side – both from a logical standpoint and a genuine belief of the word from a literal standpoint.

Have a look at some of the arguments below to get a better understanding of the sides of the argument and make a decision yourself – is water wet?

Against – Is Water Wet? ❌

Most scientists define ‘wet’ as a liquids ability to have consistent contact with a solid object, indicating that water itself is not wet but it can make other things wet
Water isn’t wet because it’s a wetting agent (USA Today)
Another scientific approach suggests that the molecules in water have a cohesive interaction; it doesn’t wet itself due to the formation of hydrogen bonds to stick together.
Some may use the touch test as a way of indicating water is not wet, dipping your dry finger in water would make your finger wet, not the water wet from prior
The dictionary definition of wet is ‘being covered or saturated with water or another liquid’ indicating that water itself is not wet.

For- Is Water Wet? ✅

If you define ‘wet’ as a sensation you feel when it touches your skin then you could consider water as being wet (UCSB Science Line)
Similarly if you see wet as being made of liquid then water is essentially wet as in this sense all liquids are wet because they are made of liquids
Water can be seen as a viscous liquid with a relatively low surface tension so that in itself would make water wet (The Guardian)
Many would argue that because water is not dry, it in-turn surely has to be wet

Is it maybe possible for water to be both wet and not wet at the same time – probably not but it could settle a few debates to just remain perfectly equal.

The question itself is normally a rhetorical one done to stir up arguments so if you use the above points you’ll have enough ammunition on both sides to cover yourself.

THE BOTTOM LINE – WATER WET?

It depends on what you define wet as. If you see wet as ‘liquid’ or maybe even ‘moisture’ as many people do then water would be seen as wet. Most scientists however would class wetness as a liquid’s ability to keep contact with a solid, indicating that water is not wet.

(BBC Science Focus)

Ultimately the debate about water being wet will continue whilst the earth is made up of 71% of the stuff. It’s a fascinating subject and a major component of the world so understanding its properties will help understand its behaviours.

There are arguments to be had on both sides so we’ll leave it to you to make that call – maybe bring it up at your next social gathering and see what others think about the never ending question.

Maybe in a few years you’ll change your mind with the vast amount of research that is coming out about the subject.