hýdrófóbic

Hýdrófóbic is an adjective that describes a substance or material that repels water. The term originates from the Greek words "hydor" meaning water and "phobos" meaning fear. Substances that are hýdrófóbic do not dissolve in water and tend to bead up or roll off surfaces. This property is often related to the nonpolar nature of the molecules that make up the hýdrófóbic substance. Nonpolar molecules do not have a significant difference in electrical charge across their structure, making them unable to interact favorably with the polar molecules of water, which have distinct positive and negative ends.

Many everyday materials exhibit hýdrófóbic properties. For instance, oils and fats are hýdrófóbic, which is why they separate from water. Waxes and many plastics also display hýdrófóbic characteristics. This property is utilized in various applications, such as waterproofing fabrics for clothing and tents, creating non-stick coatings for cookware, and in the design of self-cleaning surfaces. The degree of hýdrófóbicity can vary, with some materials being mildly repellent and others exhibiting extreme hýdrófóbicity, often referred to as superhydrophobicity. This extreme repellency can lead to water droplets having very high contact angles with the surface.