Hydrophilicity

Hydrophilicity refers to the property of a substance to attract and interact with water molecules. Hydrophilic materials or surfaces readily absorb or mix with water because they can form hydrogen bonds or have polar characteristics that bond with water. For example, glass and many plastics are hydrophilic because they easily get wet and allow water to spread over their surface. This property is important in many biological and industrial processes, such as how cells interact with their watery environments or how certain materials are designed to quickly absorb liquids.