What term describes a spontaneous or natural tendency for two substances to join together?

What term describes a spontaneous or natural tendency for two substances to join together?

• A. Affinity
• B. Adhesion
• C. Cohesion
• D. Bonding

Answer: (A)

Affinity captures the natural, spontaneous tendency of two substances to come together or react. It describes an intrinsic attraction or compatibility that makes combination more favorable, often leading to bond formation or compound creation when the right conditions exist. This is why it’s the best fit here. Adhesion refers to the attraction between different substances, such as water sticking to glass, which is about sticking to surfaces rather than the inherent drive to join with another substance. Cohesion is the attraction between like molecules within the same substance, like water molecules sticking to each other. Bonding is the actual process or result of forming a bond, not the underlying tendency itself.

Affinity captures the natural, spontaneous tendency of two substances to come together or react. It describes an intrinsic attraction or compatibility that makes combination more favorable, often leading to bond formation or compound creation when the right conditions exist. This is why it’s the best fit here.

Adhesion refers to the attraction between different substances, such as water sticking to glass, which is about sticking to surfaces rather than the inherent drive to join with another substance. Cohesion is the attraction between like molecules within the same substance, like water molecules sticking to each other. Bonding is the actual process or result of forming a bond, not the underlying tendency itself.