What does the term hydrophobic refer to?

The term hydrophobic refers to the water-repelling nature of a substance. This characteristic means that hydrophobic substances do not interact well with water due to their molecular structure, typically being nonpolar. In practical terms, hydrophobic materials tend to cluster together in aqueous environments to minimize their exposure to water. This property is crucial in various biological and chemical processes, such as the formation of cell membranes, where hydrophobic tails of phospholipids face inward, away from water, creating a barrier that protects cellular components. Understanding hydrophobicity is essential for studying interactions in biochemistry, material science, and environmental science.