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Why do hydrophobic molecules tend to aggregate in an aqueous solution?
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Luzze Arthur
Why do hydrophobic molecules tend to aggregate in an aqueous solution?
The answer, of course, is that they generally are, or at least can be. Starting with RainX, there are a number of solutions that will act in that matter. But they don’t last forever, and must be re-applied from time to time.
The answer, of course, is that they generally are, or at least can be. Starting with RainX, there are a number of solutions that will act in that matter. But they don’t last forever, and must be re-applied from time to time.
Why do hydrophobic molecules tend to aggregate in an aqueous solution?
It’s not so much that they actively aggregate. It’s more that the water pushes them together.
If a hydrophobic molecule (one that is incapable of forming hydrogen bonds) happens to find itself surrounded by water molecules (as it would be if it were dissolved), the water molecules will prefer to hydrogen-bond to each other, so they will push the hydrophobic molecule out as new H[math]_2[/math]O—H[math]_2[/math]O hydrogen bonds form. Then the hydrophobic molecules will all either float or sink, depending on their density vs H2O. CCl[math]_4[/math] will sink. C[math]_8[/math]H[math]_{18}[/math] will float.
Why do hydrophobic molecules tend to aggregate in an aqueous solution?
It’s not so much that they actively aggregate. It’s more that the water pushes them together.
If a hydrophobic molecule (one that is incapable of forming hydrogen bonds) happens to find itself surrounded by water molecules (as it would be if it were dissolved), the water molecules will prefer to hydrogen-bond to each other, so they will push the hydrophobic molecule out as new H[math]_2[/math]O—H[math]_2[/math]O hydrogen bonds form. Then the hydrophobic molecules will all either float or sink, depending on their density vs H2O. CCl[math]_4[/math] will sink. C[math]_8[/math]H[math]_{18}[/math] will float.
The answer, of course, is that they generally are, or at least can be. Starting with RainX, there are a number of solutions that will act in that matter. But they don’t last forever, and must be re-applied from time to time.
The answer, of course, is that they generally are, or at least can be. Starting with RainX, there are a number of solutions that will act in that matter. But they don’t last forever, and must be re-applied from time to time.
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Why do hydrophobic molecules tend to aggregate in an aqueous solution?
It’s not so much that they actively aggregate. It’s more that the water pushes them together.
If a hydrophobic molecule (one that is incapable of forming hydrogen bonds) happens to find itself surrounded by water molecules (as it would be if it were dissolved), the water molecules will prefer to hydrogen-bond to each other, so they will push the hydrophobic molecule out as new H[math]_2[/math]O—H[math]_2[/math]O hydrogen bonds form. Then the hydrophobic molecules will all either float or sink, depending on their density vs H2O. CCl[math]_4[/math] will sink. C[math]_8[/math]H[math]_{18}[/math] will float.
Why do hydrophobic molecules tend to aggregate in an aqueous solution?
It’s not so much that they actively aggregate. It’s more that the water pushes them together.
If a hydrophobic molecule (one that is incapable of forming hydrogen bonds) happens to find itself surrounded by water molecules (as it would be if it were dissolved), the water molecules will prefer to hydrogen-bond to each other, so they will push the hydrophobic molecule out as new H[math]_2[/math]O—H[math]_2[/math]O hydrogen bonds form. Then the hydrophobic molecules will all either float or sink, depending on their density vs H2O. CCl[math]_4[/math] will sink. C[math]_8[/math]H[math]_{18}[/math] will float.
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