HydrophilicHydrophilic literally translates as "water loving" or "water friend." Hydrophilic substances are attracted to, and dissolve well within, water.
Hydrophilic is typically used to describe a property of a molecule, and refers to the likelihood of its bonding with the hydrogen molecule in water. A hydrophilic molecule is not just soluble in water but also in other polar solvents; it will dissolve less readily in oils and other hydrophobic solvents. Hydrophilic molecules are charge-polarized so that one end is positive and the other negative.
In addition to hydrophilic molecules, there are also super hydrophilic molecules which have special applications. An example is titanium dioxide; water dropped onto titanium dioxide has almost no contact angle. Super hydrophilic materials act as excellent glass defoggers and enable oil spots to be washed away with water. These substances are being used today in car door mirrors, window coatings, and building coatings.
Super hydrophilic substances may be used in the future to create metastable structures, or to enable water to clean substances that were previously almost impossible to clean with water. These applications are still in the earliest stages.
Web Resources On Hydrophilic
Hydrophilic Substances
Hydrophilic Interactions
Book Resources On HydrophilicDesign and Applications of Hydrophilic Polyurethanes by T. Thomson
Hydrophilic Polymers: Performance With Environmental Acceptance by J. Edward Glass
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