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Which term describes molecules that are nonpolar, repel water, and/or do not dissolve in water?

Question

Which term describes molecules that are nonpolar, repel water, and/or do not dissolve in water?

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Solution

The term that describes molecules that are nonpolar, repel water, and/or do not dissolve in water is "hydrophobic".

Here's a step-by-step explanation:

  1. Molecules can be either polar or nonpolar. Polar molecules have a net dipole as a result of the opposing charges (i.e. having partial positive and partial negative charges) from polar bonds arranged asymmetrically. Nonpolar molecules occur when electrons are shared equally between atoms of a diatomic molecule or when polar bonds in a larger molecule cancel each other out.

  2. Water is a polar molecule, which means it is attracted to other polar molecules and ions, but not to nonpolar molecules.

  3. Nonpolar molecules, such as oils and fats, do not dissolve in water because water molecules are not attracted to them.

  4. The term "hydrophobic" comes from the Greek words for water (hydro) and fear (phobia), and it describes substances that repel water. This term is used in chemistry to describe the property of a substance that is seemingly repelled from water.

So, the term that describes nonpolar molecules that repel or do not dissolve in water is "hydrophobic".

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