Hydrophilic describes substances that tend to do what with water?

• A. Insoluble in water
• B. Never interacts with water
• C. Tends to mix with, dissolve in, or be wetted by water
• D. Hydrophobic

Answer: (C)

Hydrophilic means water-loving. Substances with this property have polar or charged groups that form favorable interactions with water molecules, such as hydrogen bonds or dipole interactions. Because of these interactions, they tend to mix with water, dissolve in it, or be readily wetted by water. That’s why this describes the correct behavior. In contrast, something that is insoluble in water or never interacts with water wouldn’t be hydrophilic, and hydrophobic is the opposite—substances that repel water and don’t mix with it.