The water/graphitic-carbon interaction energy was obtained for a sample having a water surface site adsorption density of 13.3 mu mol m(-2). The interaction energy was determined from the spreading pressure of water, its surface tension and the water contact angle and using a formula obtained by the combination of the Young equation with a general equation of pair interaction. The values obtained for contact angles 42 degrees and 86 degrees are 7.63 and 7.18 kJ mol(-1) of water are similar to the water binding energies obtained from molecular dynamic simulations of water droplets on a graphite surface: 6.7-8.33 kJ mol(-1). (c) 2006 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.