It seems to defy the laws of physics, but a paper clip made of steel can indeed float on the water surface. The high surface tension helps the paper clip - with much higher density - float on the water. The cohesive forces between liquid molecules are responsible for the phenomenon known as surface tension.

Will paper clips sink?

As it weighs much more than the water it is displacing, it will sink. However, the surface tension changes things for the paperclip. ... With the surface tension bending the water, it displaces more than half of a gram of water, allowing the paperclip to float, delicately, on the surface.

Can you make a paperclip float?

The simplest way to do this is to take another paperclip, extend it out, and then use it as a lever to lower the paperclip that you want to float. (Make sure to fill your glass of water near to the top as that will make things easier.) ... It's actually the surface of the water that's holding the paperclip up!