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Hydrophobic for Dummies

adjective

pronunciation: ,haɪdrə'foʊbɪk

What does Hydrophobic really mean?

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Hey there!

Alright, let's dive into the exciting world of chemistry and talk about what "hydrophobic" means. Trust me, it's not as complicated as it sounds!

To put it simply, when we say something is hydrophobic, we mean that it has a strong aversion or fear towards water. It's like when you don't want to jump into a swimming pool because you're scared of getting wet.

Now, let's make it even clearer with a fun analogy. Imagine you have a fluffy teddy bear. This teddy bear, let's call it Terry, absolutely hates water! Whenever Terry sees water, it tries to run away as fast as possible, avoiding any contact. Terry's fear of water makes it hydrophobic.

Chemically speaking, hydrophobic substances are those that resist mixing or dissolving in water. They tend to repel water molecules, just like oil and water don't like to mix. These substances are like those cool superheroes who can't be defeated by water, they just repel it!

Now, "hydrophobic" can also be used to describe something that is not attracted to or does not interact well with water. For example, imagine sprinkling some glitter onto your hand and then trying to wash it off with water. The water won't be able to remove the glitter because it's hydrophobic, meaning it doesn't stick to or dissolve in water easily. So, you'll have glitzy hands for a while!

In summary, think of hydrophobic as something that avoids, doesn't mix well with, or repels water. It's all about things not wanting to get wet or not wanting to interact with water easily.

See, it's not as complex as it initially seemed, right? If you have any more questions or if there's another word you'd like me to explain in a similar way, I'm here to help!

Revised and Fact checked by Mary Johnson on 2023-10-29 10:50:51

Hydrophobic In a sentece

Learn how to use Hydrophobic inside a sentece

  • A raincoat is hydrophobic because it repels water and keeps you dry when it rains.
  • Some plants have hydrophobic leaves that prevent water from sticking to them, so raindrops slide off easily.
  • A waterproof phone case is hydrophobic because it keeps water from damaging your phone when it's submerged in water.
  • A wax candle is hydrophobic, so it doesn't get wet when you put it in water. Water droplets just roll off the surface of the candle.
  • A Teflon pan is hydrophobic, which means it doesn't absorb water or get stained easily. It makes cooking and cleaning the pan much easier.

Hydrophobic Synonyms

Words that can be interchanged for the original word in the same context.

Hydrophobic Antonyms

Words that have the opposite context of the original word.

Hydrophobic Similar Words

Words that similar to the original word, but are not synonyms.

Hydrophobic Category

The domain category to which the original word belongs.