Comparing water to xylene, diesel fuel, and cottonseed oil, the surface tension of water is:

The surface tension of a liquid is a physical property that results from cohesive forces between molecules. Water, known for its high surface tension due to strong hydrogen bonding among its molecules, has a surface tension value significantly higher than that of xylene, diesel fuel, and cottonseed oil.

In contrast, hydrocarbons like xylene and diesel fuel typically have lower surface tension due to weaker intermolecular forces compared to water. Cottonseed oil, being a non-polar liquid, also exhibits lower surface tension than water. The higher surface tension of water contributes to phenomena such as water's ability to form droplets and its behavior in various applications, including pesticide application where surface tension can affect droplet formation and distribution.

Understanding this property is crucial in aerial applications, as it helps predict how pesticides will disperse and adhere to surfaces, which is affected by the liquid's surface tension. Therefore, it is accurate to conclude that the surface tension of water is greater than that of xylene, diesel fuel, and cottonseed oil.