What does 'hydrophobic' mean?

The term 'hydrophobic' refers to substances that repel water. This characteristic means that hydrophobic materials do not mix well with water and tend to separate from it. They are typically non-polar molecules that do not form hydrogen bonds with water, leading to a lack of attraction towards water molecules. As a result, hydrophobic substances will often either float on top of water or form separate layers when mixed with it, rather than dissolving or dispersing evenly.

For example, oils and fats are considered hydrophobic because they do not mix with water but instead form a distinct layer when combined. Understanding the hydrophobic nature of certain molecules is essential in fields such as biochemistry, where the behavior of lipids and proteins in aqueous environments is crucial for cellular function and structure.