How do intermolecular forces affect capillary action?

Capillary action is the ascension of liquid through a slim tube.

It is the intermolecular forces that allows the liquid to be attracted to one another while in the tube. This is call cohesion, which allows them to maintain their shape while being attracted to the tube.

Note that capillary action only occur when adhesive forces are stronger than cohesive forces, which ultimately becomes surface tension.