Capillary action<span> occurs when the adhesion to the walls is stronger than the cohesive </span>forces<span> between the liquid molecules. The </span>height to which capillary action will take water<span> in a uniform circular </span>tube<span> is limited by surface tension and, of course, gravity.</span>
Because alcohol expands over small temp changes, hence while a vial of it is used in sprinklers as the stop plug; the room gets hotter, the plug shatters.
It is a universal constant used for all gases
