you know that surface tension is related to the cohesive properties of water.
Water particles may also be attracted to particles in other substances. the force of attraction between unlike particles is called adhesion. when water comes in contact with another substance, there is a tug of war between the forces of cohesion and adhesion. You can figure out which force won by observing what happens to the water.
place a clean new penny on apaper towel. add distilled water, one drop at a time, to the penny howmany drops can you add before the water runs off the penny ?