Here's a breakdown:
* Hydro- comes from the Greek word "hydōr", meaning water.
* -philic comes from the Greek word "philos", meaning "loving".
So, hydrophilic describes substances that have a strong affinity for water. They tend to:
* Dissolve in water: Think of sugar or salt.
* Form hydrogen bonds with water molecules: These strong bonds make the substance readily mix with water.
* Be attracted to water surfaces: This is why water droplets cling to surfaces like glass.
Examples of hydrophilic substances:
* Sugars: Glucose, fructose, sucrose
* Salts: Sodium chloride (table salt)
* Alcohol: Ethanol
* Many proteins and amino acids: They have polar groups that can form hydrogen bonds with water.
Opposite of Hydrophilic:
The opposite of hydrophilic is hydrophobic, meaning "water-fearing". Hydrophobic substances repel water and don't mix with it easily. Think of oil or grease.