BSC 2010C Chapter 2: Bio Notes - Hydrophilic Substances
Document Summary
Hydrophilic substances are substances that have an affinity for water, meaning they are attracted to and readily dissolve in water. The term "hydrophilic" comes from the greek words "hydro" meaning water, and "philos" meaning loving. Hydrophilic substances can be organic or inorganic and can be classified as polar or charged. Polar hydrophilic substances have a partial positive charge on one end and a partial negative charge on the other end. This creates an electric dipole moment that allows the substance to interact with water molecules. Examples of polar hydrophilic substances include sugars, amino acids, and some proteins. Charged hydrophilic substances have either a positive or negative charge and interact with water through ionic interactions. Examples of charged hydrophilic substances include ions like sodium (na+) and chloride (cl-) and molecules like urea. Hydrophilic substances are important in many biological processes. They are essential components of the cytoplasm, which is the fluid that fills cells.
