Curious Kids is a series for children of all ages. If you have a question you’d like an expert to answer, send it to CuriousKidsUS@theconversation.com. Why is water wet? – Philip S., age 12, Northville, Michigan Spring is often a rainy season. If you get caught in a downpour without an umbrella, you will quickly learn what it means to be wet. But what is it about water that makes it wet? I am an atmospheric scientist, and water is a fundamental part of the atmosphere. I study storms and wildfires, both of which are closely connected to water. Why water is wet has to do with how water molecules interact with each other and the things around them. Wet you can see Imagine you accidentally spill water on your clothes one day. You will notice two things: First, the water spreads out on the cloth, and the wet part sticks to your body more than the dry part does; and second, the wet area feels cool. Wet clothes stick to your body and water spreads across the fabric because water molecules are strongly attracted to other molecules, a chemical property called adhesion. One important reason why water molecules are…