At a molecular level.Actually on a subatomic level it is possible to do that.
At a molecular level.
It depends on where we think most of the friction actually occurs in this case - between whole molecules or on the outskirts of individual atoms that make these molecules.
[...] gently staple it into the tree with a hammer.
That looks like a chick with a short haircut from the beginning.
Actually, it would depend on the point of contact being a small section of the hydrogen bonded lattice that is somewhat present in water in it's liquid form, or the molecule of water being trapped by the surface of the staple. By saying it is on a sub-atomic level you are talking about the staple separating the nucleus of the individual hydrogen and oxygen atoms, splitting an atom... and that definitely doesn't happen.It depends on where we think most of the friction actually occurs in this case - between whole molecules or on the outskirts of individual atoms that make these molecules.