hüdrofoobsem

Hydrophobism is a physical property of a substance that causes it to repel water. The word "hydrophobic" is derived from Greek and literally means "water fearing." Substances that are hydrophobic tend to be nonpolar. Water is a polar molecule. When a nonpolar substance encounters water, the water molecules tend to stick to each other rather than to the nonpolar substance. This is because water molecules are attracted to each other through hydrogen bonding, a strong intermolecular force.

Hydrophobic materials are often oily or waxy in nature. Examples include oil, grease, and many plastics. In biological systems, cell membranes are largely composed of lipids, which are hydrophobic. This property is crucial for the formation of the membrane's barrier function, separating the aqueous interior of the cell from the aqueous exterior.

The opposite of hydrophobic is hydrophilic, meaning "water loving." Hydrophilic substances are typically polar or charged and readily interact with water. Examples include salts, sugars, and alcohols. The balance between hydrophobic and hydrophilic regions within a molecule plays a significant role in its behavior and function, particularly in biological contexts. For instance, proteins have both hydrophobic and hydrophilic amino acid residues, which dictates how they fold and interact within aqueous environments.