Is Water Wet?

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[The group gathers in a cozy café, with steaming cups of coffee and books scattered across the table. Carlos, frowning and resting his chin on his hand, breaks the silence.]

Carlos (with a thoughtful voice and gesturing with his hands):

"Friends, there's something that's been on my mind, and I can't stop thinking about it. We say 'water wets' as something evident, but I wonder, is water itself wet? That is, can water possess the quality of being wet, or is it simply the essence of wetness?"

Luis (smiling and leaning back in his chair):

"Well, Carlos, it really depends on the language and how we define 'wet.' In Spanish, 'mojar' comes from 'malear,' which means to make something softer with a liquid. Water is already soft, so maybe it doesn't apply. But in English, 'wet' is related to 'water.' So, would water be 'watered'? Sounds a bit redundant, don't you think?"

Ramón (leaning forward enthusiastically):

"Interesting point, Luis! In my experience with lithographic printing, controlling the cohesion of water molecules is crucial. A drop of water can be round or spread out, depending on the surface tension. In fact, if you dip your finger into a mix of flour and water, when you pull it out, it will be dry. So, 'wetting' depends more on how water interacts with other surfaces."

[Ana, with her arms crossed and an eyebrow raised, chimes in.]

Ana (skeptical):

"Sorry, but I think we're overcomplicating something simple. Water can't be wet because it's the liquid that wets other things. Saying that water is wet is like saying fire is burned."

Elena (adjusting her glasses and speaking calmly):

"Ana has a point, but let's consider this philosophically. 'Wet' is a state we attribute to solid objects when they're covered with liquid. However, if we think of each water molecule surrounded by other water molecules, couldn't we say that water is 'wet' on a molecular level?"

[Pedro, indecisive and playing with his spoon, joins the conversation.]

Pedro (confused):

"I'm a bit lost. On one hand, it makes sense that water can't be wet, but on the other, I feel it's the wettest thing there is. Can someone clarify this for me?"

Javier (smiles and explains enthusiastically):

"From a chemistry standpoint, Pedro, think about water molecules. Each H₂O molecule is surrounded by other H₂O molecules, bonded by hydrogen bonds. In a way, each molecule is 'wet' by the others. It's a constant interaction."

[Lucía, leaning on the table with interest, looks at Javier.]

Lucía (eager to learn):

"That's fascinating, Javier. So could we say that water is wet on a molecular level?"

Sofía (gently gesturing):

"Well, from a physics perspective, 'wetting' implies the interaction between adhesive and cohesive forces. Water wets solid surfaces when its molecules adhere to them. But between water molecules, there's only cohesion. So technically, water doesn't 'wet' water."

[Andrés laughs softly and adds in a poetic tone.]

Andrés:

"Ah, but water is the essence of wetness, my friends. It's like asking if light is luminous or if sound is sonorous. Water and wetness are inseparable in our perception."

[María raises a hand, pointing out a fact.]

María (linguist):

"From a linguistic standpoint, 'wet' is an adjective that describes the resulting state from contact with a liquid. Water is our reference for 'wet.' Saying that water is wet is linguistically redundant, but not necessarily incorrect."

[Miguel, with a sly smile, intervenes.]

Miguel (philosopher):

"It reminds me of the old dilemma: Can a liar claim they're lying? We're caught in a semantic game. Maybe we need to redefine our terms."

[Ana rolls her eyes slightly.]

Ana:

"This sounds like sophistry to me. At the end of the day, water can't be wet because it's the agent that wets. Period."

[Pedro still seems undecided.]

Pedro:

"But if I touch water, I feel wet. And the water is... in contact with itself, right?"

Daniela (nodding):

"Exactly, Pedro. From physical chemistry, water molecules are in constant motion and interaction. We can think of each molecule as being 'wet' by its neighbors."

[Roberto leans back, crossing his arms.]

Roberto (engineer):

"From a practical perspective, when something is wet, its properties change. Water itself doesn't change when in contact with itself. That's why, operationally, it's not 'wet.'"

[Ana smiles, feeling supported.]

Ana:

"Thanks, Roberto! That's precisely what I was trying to say."

[Lucía looks at Ana and Roberto.]

Lucía:

"But then, isn't it possible that both perspectives are valid depending on the context?"

[Ramón raises an eyebrow and adds with a mischievous smile.]

Ramón:

"Maybe we need some 'wet water' to clear our minds. Anyone else want coffee?"

[Everyone laughs, easing the tension a bit.]

Elena:

"Lucía is right. Perhaps the problem is that we're trying to apply a fixed definition to a concept that's more fluid—if you'll pardon the pun."

[Carlos, who has been listening attentively, sits up straight.]

Carlos:

"You know, after hearing your arguments, I think I understand better. Maybe water isn't 'wet' in the conventional sense, but we can consider it the reference for wetness. That is, it's the standard by which we measure that quality."

[Pedro nods, seeming more confident.]

Pedro:

"Yes, that makes sense. Water is what wets, but it doesn't need to be wet to wet others."

[Athena, with a serene voice, joins in.]

Athena (artificial intelligence):

"We could say that 'wet' is a relational property. Water allows other objects to become wet upon contact. However, since it's the substance that defines that property, it doesn't need to possess it itself."

[Andrés smiles and adds jocularly.]

Andrés:

"It's like asking if sugar is sweet to itself or only when we taste it. Does sugar know it's sweet?"

[Everyone laughs again.]

María:

"Well, Andrés, from a linguistic point of view, sugar is the standard of sweetness, just as water is the standard of wetness."

[Ana, still skeptical but more relaxed, comments.]

Ana:

"I guess if we look at it that way, it makes more sense. Though I still think it's more of a semantic issue than anything else."

[Lucía smiles at Ana.]

Lucía:

"And that's what's fascinating about these discussions. They allow us to see different perspectives and broaden our understanding."

[Carlos raises his coffee cup.]

Carlos:

"That's why I love talking with all of you. I always learn something new. Thank you for helping me see this from another angle."

[Everyone raises their cups in a toast.]

All:

"Cheers!"

[The conversation continues more casually, touching on other topics and enjoying each other's company.]

[As the group disperses, Ana approaches Carlos.]

Ana:

"You know, Carlos, even though I was skeptical, I admit it was interesting to explore this idea. You made me think."

Carlos (smiles):

"That's all I was aiming for, Ana. In the end, what's important is to question and learn together."

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