HYDROPHOBE Meaning and
Definition
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hydrophobe (noun):
A hydrophobe is an individual or substance that exhibits an aversion or repulsion towards water. The term is derived from the Greek words "hydro" meaning "water" and "phobos" meaning "fear" or "aversion". A hydrophobe is commonly used to describe nonpolar or nonionic molecules that lack an affinity or ability to dissolve in water due to their unique chemical properties.
In chemistry, a hydrophobe refers to substances that are insoluble in water and tend to aggregate or clump together in order to minimize contact with water molecules. This characteristic arises due to the hydrophobic effect, which is caused by the tendency of water molecules to form extensive hydrogen bonding networks with each other. Hydrophobes, on the other hand, lack the ability to form these hydrogen bonds, resulting in their aversion to water.
In biology, hydrophobicity refers to the tendency of nonpolar molecules to repel or be excluded from water. This property plays a crucial role in various biological processes, such as protein folding, cellular membranes, and the interactions between molecules in aqueous environments.
Overall, the term hydrophobe describes substances or individuals that have a natural repulsion or lack of affinity towards water, which is primarily due to their unique chemical or molecular properties.
Common Misspellings for HYDROPHOBE
- gydrophobe
- bydrophobe
- nydrophobe
- jydrophobe
- uydrophobe
- yydrophobe
- htdrophobe
- hgdrophobe
- hhdrophobe
- hudrophobe
- h7drophobe
- h6drophobe
- hysrophobe
- hyxrophobe
- hycrophobe
- hyfrophobe
- hyrrophobe
- hyerophobe
- hydeophobe
- hyddophobe
Etymology of HYDROPHOBE
The word "hydrophobe" is derived from the Greek roots "hydro" meaning water and "phobe" meaning fear or aversion. The term was originally used in the field of chemistry to describe substances or materials that have a strong aversion or repulsion to water. Over time, the term has been extended to various contexts, including biology, medicine, and psychology, to refer to individuals or organisms that exhibit fear or aversion towards water.
