Meaning & use
amphiphilic
Last updated
Having both water-attracting (hydrophilic) and water-repelling (hydrophobic) parts within the same molecule.
See it in a sentence
Soap molecules are amphiphilic, which lets them bind to both grease and water.
Cell membranes are built from amphiphilic lipid molecules arranged in a double layer.
A note on using this word
A key concept in chemistry and biology for explaining how substances like soaps, detergents, and cell membranes interact with both oil and water.
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