“Most scientists define wetness as a liquid’s ability to maintain contact with a solid surface, meaning that water itself is not wet, but can make other sensation. But if you define wet as ‘made of liquid or moisture’, as some do, then water and all other liquids can be considered wet.”
Basically Emergence dictates that a group of things (like H2O molecules) can form something greater than the sum of itself (wetness). In the molecules wetness is not a thing, but the interaction of water with something else creates wetness. This concept cannot reasonably be boiled down to the molecular level, it only exists on this plane of existence.
Then what about dry ice? That’s frozen carbon dioxide, so it is waterless ice. It is called dry because it lacks any water. Is water ice more or less wet than dry ice?
Since water is touching itself, wouldn’t that make it wet by that definition?
“Most scientists define wetness as a liquid’s ability to maintain contact with a solid surface, meaning that water itself is not wet, but can make other sensation. But if you define wet as ‘made of liquid or moisture’, as some do, then water and all other liquids can be considered wet.”
https://www.sciencefocus.com/science/is-water-wet 9 Nov 2023
My favourite answer to this is Emergence, which was explained well in a recent kurzgesagt video.
Basically Emergence dictates that a group of things (like H2O molecules) can form something greater than the sum of itself (wetness). In the molecules wetness is not a thing, but the interaction of water with something else creates wetness. This concept cannot reasonably be boiled down to the molecular level, it only exists on this plane of existence.
If something is not wet, we call it dry, still waiting for someone to tell me water is fucking dry.
I’m just talking about the wetness of water here, I support abortion rights.
Edit: most comment replies I’ve had on here and it’s about water and if it’s wet. We’re so mundane.
What about gases, are gases wet or dry?
You say a gas is wet if it contains water, ok what about if the gas contains mercury, is that wet? Is pure liquid mercury wet or dry?
People have been describing wine as dry for ages
Also cranberry juice, which tastes like it doesn’t want to be wet.
deleted by creator
Then what about dry ice? That’s frozen carbon dioxide, so it is waterless ice. It is called dry because it lacks any water. Is water ice more or less wet than dry ice?
deleted by creator
It’s neither because the concept isn’t applicable. It’s like dividing by 0. You can string the symbols together, but they don’t mean anything.