Capillarity is the phenomenon of liquids rising or falling in narrow tubes due to surface tension. It is the result of the combination of adhesive forces between the liquid and the walls of the tube and the cohesive forces between liquid molecules. This phenomenon can be seen in everyday life, such as when water rises up in a narrow straw or the wick of a candle absorbs the liquid wax. Capillarity is also used to separate particles in chromatography and to transport liquid in microfluidic devices.
