Hydrophobicity

Hydrophobicity refers to the tendency of certain molecules or parts of molecules to repel water. These molecules are nonpolar, meaning they don't have a positive or negative charge that attracts water molecules. As a result, hydrophobic substances avoid mixing with water and tend to cluster together, which is important in biological processes like protein folding and cell membrane formation. Think of oil and water—it’s the hydrophobic molecules in oil that prevent it from dissolving in water. Hydrophobicity influences how molecules behave in aqueous environments, affecting their structure, function, and interactions.