Hydrophobic: Difference between revisions
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Revision as of 18:15, 25 November 2010
The term hydrophobic (hydro=water phobic=fearing) is used to describe molecules that will not interact with water. Such molecules can also be known as lipophilic (fat-loving). Hydrophobic molecules are usually neutral and non-polar and so will not dissolve in polar solvents such as water[1]. Instead, hydrophobic molecules are inclined to group together to avoid associating with water[2]. This is a key feature in the phospholipid bilayers[3] of cell membranes. Examples of hydrophobic substances include fats, oils and alkanes.
References
- ↑ Bruce Alberts, Alexander Johnson, Julian Lewis, Martin Raff, Keith Roberts, Peter Walter, (2008) Molecular Biology of the Cell, 5th edition, Page 620, New York: Garland Science
- ↑ Jeremy M. Berg, John L. Tymoczko, Lubert Stryer (2007), Biochemistry 6th Edition, Page 28, New York: W. H. Freeman and Company
- ↑ Bruce Alberts, Alexander Johnson, Julian Lewis, Martin Raff, Keith Roberts, Peter Walter, (2008) Molecular Biology of the Cell, 5th edition, Page 620, New York: Garland Science