Water can cause pipes to burst and it can even break stone with its freezing properties. When water freezes and turns to ice it expands, filling more space than when it is liquid; this occurs at 32 degrees Fahrenheit. To see this in practice, carefully place an ice cube into a full glass of warm water, making sure the water does not overflow. The ice cube will protrude above the water's surface and you might think once it melts that the water will overflow. This is not the case, however, as the ice cube has greater volume than the water from which it is made.
Steam power has been in use for thousands of years and it is produced by bringing water to its boiling point. When heat is added to water, it excites the molecules to the point that they break free in the form of steam. To see this in action, set a pot of water on the stove and watch as the heat produces movement. At first, small bubbles form, which, as the water increases in temperature, become bigger and burst at the water's surface. This happens at 212 degrees Fahrenheit.
When plants pull water up through their roots this process of water movement is called capillary action. It occurs when the adhesive force between water and a substance is stronger than water's own cohesive force, which keeps it together. Twisting a paper towel into a tight wick shape and placing it in a cup with a small amount of water shows this property. The water is drawn into the paper towel upward. If the wet towel is then moved to an empty beaker, the water will start to run out again.
The surface tension of water is created by the natural cohesion between its molecules, which are attracted to each other. A drop of water placed on a flat waxy surface will remain in a tight droplet because the wax and water molecules repel each other. Surface tension can make some things float. Large boats float because of displacement, but small insects and objects float because they are just light enough not to break the surface tension. Carefully placing a light pin or paperclip on the water's surface displays this. Drop the item, and the added force will break the surface tension and cause it to sink.