What term describes the attraction between substances of the same kind?

The term that describes the attraction between substances of the same kind is cohesion. Cohesion refers specifically to the intermolecular forces that hold similar molecules together. This property is particularly important in the context of water, where hydrogen bonding leads to strong cohesive forces. This phenomenon is evident when you observe water droplets forming on a surface or how water can pull itself up through the roots of plants, thanks to the cohesive forces between water molecules.

In contrast, adhesion refers to the attraction between different substances, like water molecules and plant cell walls. A solution is a homogeneous mixture of two or more substances, while a buffer is a solution that resists changes in pH upon the addition of an acid or base. These concepts highlight the distinction between interactions involving similar types of molecules versus different types of substances.