Hydrophobic
Hydrophobic
Hydrophobic (pronunciation: /ˌhaɪdrəˈfoʊbɪk/) is a term used in the field of Chemistry and Biology to describe the physical property of a molecule that is repelled from a mass of water. The term is often used to describe substances that seem to repel water.
Etymology
The term Hydrophobic originates from the Greek words 'hydro' meaning water and 'phobos' meaning fear. Thus, Hydrophobic literally translates to 'fear of water'.
Related Terms
- Hydrophilic: A term used to describe substances that are attracted to water.
- Lipophilic: A term used to describe substances that are attracted to fats and oils (lipids).
- Amphiphilic: A term used to describe substances that have both hydrophilic and hydrophobic properties.
Hydrophobic Effect
The Hydrophobic effect is a fundamental principle in the field of chemistry, particularly in the formation of cell membranes. It refers to the tendency of nonpolar substances to clump together in an aqueous solution and exclude water molecules.
Hydrophobic Substances
Hydrophobic substances are usually nonpolar, meaning the atoms that make up the molecule do not share their electrons equally. This results in no net dipole moment, causing the substance to be repelled by polar substances such as water. Examples of hydrophobic substances include oils, fats, greases, and certain chemical compounds.
Hydrophobic Interactions
Hydrophobic interactions refer to the relations between water and hydrophobic molecules. They are thought to play a crucial role in a variety of phenomena, including the folding and shape of proteins, and the assembly of lipid bilayers.
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Hydrophobic
- Wikipedia's article - Hydrophobic
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