Hydrophobe (from the Greek (hydros) "water" and (phobos) "fear") in chemistry refers to the physical property of a molecule that is repelled by water. Hydrophobic molecules in water often cluster together. Chemistry (in Greek: χημεία) is the science of matter and its interactions with energy and itself (see physics, biology). ... A molecule is the smallest particle of a pure chemical substance that still retains its chemical composition and properties. ... Water (from the Old English word wæter; c. ...

Hydrophobic or lipophilic species, or hydrophobes, tend to be electrically neutral and nonpolar, and thus prefer other neutral and nonpolar solvents or molecular environments. Hydrophobic is often used interchangeably with "oily" or "lipophilic". Electric charge is a fundamental conserved property of some subatomic particles, which determines their electromagnetic interactions. ... In chemistry, a nonpolar compound is one that does not have concentrations of positive or negative electric charge. ... A solvent is a liquid that dissolves a solid, liquid, or gaseous solute, resulting in a solution. ...

The term hydrophobic interaction (HI) has been used in the context of several closely related phenomena related to hydrophobic species.

According to thermodynamics, matter seeks to be a low energy state, and bonding reduces chemical energy. Water is electrically polarized, and is able to form hydrogen bonds internally, which gives it many of its unique physical properties. But since hydrophobes are not electrically polarized, and because they are unable to form hydrogen bonds, water repells hydrophobes, in favour of bonding with itself. As one larger area of this kind is energetically more favourable than two smaller ones, thermodynamics favour hydrophobic molecules clustering together, even though hydrophobic molecules are not actually attracted to another. This article needs to be cleaned up to conform to a higher standard of quality. ... http://www. ...

Examples of hydrophobic molecules include the alkanes, oils, fats, and greasy substances in general. Hydrophobic materials are used for oil removal from water, the management of oil spills, and chemical separation processes to remove non-polar from polar compounds. In science, a molecule is the smallest particle of a pure chemical substance that still retains its chemical composition and properties. ... An alkane in organic chemistry is a type of hydrocarbon in which the molecule has the maximum possible number of hydrogen atoms and so has no double bonds (they are saturated). ...

See also

• Hydrophobia
• Hydrophile, hydrophilic
• Wetting

Hydrophobia is a morbid fear of water, or of swimming. ... Hydrophile, from the Greek (hydros) water and φιλια (philia) friendship, refers to a physical property of a molecule that can bond with water. ... The adjective hydrophilic describes something that likes water (from Greek hydros = water; philos = friend). ... Wetting is important in getting two different materials to adhere (stick) to each other. ...

References

• Aryeh Ben-Na'im Hydrophobic Interaction Plenum Press, New York (ISBN 0-306-40222-X)