Answer:
Nonpolar molecules that cluster away from water molecules are called:
c. hydrophobic molecules
Hydrophobic molecules tend to repel or minimize their contact with water due to their nonpolar nature, which makes them unable to form hydrogen bonds with water molecules.
Explanation:
Hydrophobic molecules are substances that are not attracted to water molecules. This is because hydrophobic molecules typically consist of nonpolar covalent bonds, meaning they have an equal sharing of electrons and lack regions of partial positive or negative charge.
Water molecules, on the other hand, are polar, meaning they have regions of partial positive charge (hydrogen atoms) and partial negative charge (oxygen atom) due to the unequal sharing of electrons between hydrogen and oxygen atoms.
When hydrophobic molecules come into contact with water, they tend to cluster together and minimize their contact with water molecules. This behavior occurs because the energetically favorable interactions between water molecules (hydrogen bonding) are disrupted when water molecules surround hydrophobic molecules. To minimize disruption to these interactions, water molecules arrange themselves in a way that excludes hydrophobic molecules from their vicinity.
For example, when oil is added to water, it forms droplets or spreads out as a thin film on the water's surface because oil molecules are hydrophobic and are repelled by water. Similarly, the hydrophobic interior of cell membranes prevents the passage of water-soluble molecules through the membrane, allowing the membrane to selectively control the movement of substances in and out of cells.
In summary, hydrophobic molecules are characterized by their tendency to cluster away from water molecules due to their nonpolar nature and inability to form favorable interactions with water.
