The tendency of water molecules to resist external force due to hydrogen bonding is referred to as what?

The correct term for the tendency of water molecules to resist external force due to hydrogen bonding is surface tension. This phenomenon arises from the cohesive forces between water molecules, which are particularly strong at the surface. The hydrogen bonds create a network that gives the surface of water a certain "skin-like" quality, allowing it to support small objects and resist deformation.

In this context, while cohesion refers to the attraction between similar molecules (like water to water), and adhesion describes the attraction between different types of molecules (like water to a glass surface), surface tension specifically highlights the effect of these cohesive forces at the liquid's surface.

Thermal conductivity, on the other hand, relates to how well a substance can conduct heat, which is not related to the forces at play in the context of molecular interactions or the resistance to external forces. Thus, surface tension is the most accurate term that encapsulates the behavior described in the question.