Hydrophobicity

Hydrophobicity is the tendency of a substance or surface to interact weakly with water. It commonly arises when nonpolar molecules cannot form favorable interactions with polar water molecules.

Hydrophobic effect: The tendency of nonpolar molecules or surfaces to aggregate in water, reducing disruption of water’s hydrogen-bond network. It describes the solvent-driven mechanism behind many forms of hydrophobicity.
Superhydrophobicity: Extreme water repellency in which droplets bead strongly and often roll off a surface. It is a highly water-repellent form of surface hydrophobicity.
Polarity: An uneven distribution of electrical charge within a bond or molecule. Molecular polarity often predicts whether a substance interacts favorably with water.
Hydrophilicity: The tendency of a substance or surface to interact favorably with water. It is the direct opposite of hydrophobicity in descriptions of water affinity.
Hydrogen bond: An attractive interaction involving a hydrogen atom bonded to an electronegative atom and another electronegative atom. Water’s hydrogen-bond network helps explain why nonpolar surfaces are unfavorable in water.
Lotus effect: Self-cleaning behavior of rough, water-repellent surfaces modeled on lotus leaves. The lotus leaf combines hydrophobic chemistry and texture to shed water and dirt.
Water: A polar molecule composed of two hydrogen atoms bonded to one oxygen atom. Hydrophobicity is defined by a substance’s weak affinity for this solvent.
Oleophilicity: The tendency of a substance or surface to interact favorably with oils. A material can repel water yet attract oils, so hydrophobicity does not imply oil repellency.
London dispersion force: A weak attraction between particles caused by instantaneous and induced fluctuations in electron density. These forces can favor contact between nonpolar molecules even when water does not.
Hydrophobic coating: A surface treatment that reduces water spreading or adhesion on a material. Such coatings turn hydrophobic behavior into practical water protection.

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MicelleRelated: Hydrophobic groups are gathered away from water in the micelle interior.