The Hydrophobic Effect: Explained!

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In summary, Amphiphatic molecules disrupt the ordered water structure and form a watercage around them, which stabilizes the water. This cage can hold both micelle and water.
  • #1
rwooduk
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We have been given this description on a slide from class:

The hydrophobic effect is believed to bean entropic effect caused by the energy cost of disrupting many hydrogen bonds by a non-polar molecule, hence disrupting the quasi-ordered water structure,and the freezing of water molecules around the non-polar molecule in a frozen structured watercage. This structure is known as a
clathrate cage.

I don't understand the "freezing" part, what's frozen? It's in reference to the formation of self-assembly of simple micelles, do they form at freezing temperatures? I honestly have no clue.

Thanks for any help trying to understand this.
 
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Don't take the literal meaning of 'freezing' and 'frozen' here.It means that Micelles that are Amphiphatic(phobic and philic at ends) in nature disrupts ordered water structure and arranges themselves such that 'around Micelles ' the water gets frozen (gets stabilized in actual sense) forming a watercage.
 
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kiritee Gak said:
Don't take the literal meaning of 'freezing' and 'frozen' here.It means that Micelles that are Amphiphatic(phobic and philic at ends) in nature disrupts ordered water structure and arranges themselves such that 'around Micelles ' the water gets frozen (gets stabilized in actual sense) forming a watercage.

Thanks for the reply. Hmm, thanks for explaining the frozen part. I'm still a little lost as I thought it was the disorder of the water that allowed for hydrogen bonding and formation, are you saying that this formation brings about stabilization of the water? Also, may I ask, this "cage" what exactly is it?

Thanks again.
 
  • #4
No this does not just bring the stabilization for water but it brings it for both Micelle+Water system.Water forms a cage(clathrate) around it so that it can hold Micelle.
 
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  • #5
kiritee Gak said:
No this does not just bring the stabilization for water but it brings it for both Micelle+Water system.Water forms a cage(clathrate) around it so that it can hold Micelle.

That's very helpful, many thanks!
 

1. What is the hydrophobic effect?

The hydrophobic effect is a phenomenon in which nonpolar substances, such as oil or fat, tend to aggregate and exclude water molecules. This occurs due to the energetically favorable interactions between nonpolar molecules, and the unfavorable interactions between nonpolar molecules and water molecules.

2. How does the hydrophobic effect work?

The hydrophobic effect occurs due to the structure of water molecules. Water molecules are polar, with a positive and negative end. When nonpolar molecules are introduced to water, they disrupt the hydrogen bonding between water molecules, resulting in a decrease in entropy. To minimize this decrease in entropy, water molecules form a cage-like structure around the nonpolar molecules, effectively excluding them from the surrounding water.

3. What is the significance of the hydrophobic effect in biological systems?

The hydrophobic effect is essential in maintaining the structure and function of biological molecules, such as proteins and cell membranes. Hydrophobic interactions between nonpolar amino acids in proteins help to stabilize their three-dimensional structure. In cell membranes, the hydrophobic tails of phospholipids form a barrier against water, allowing for the separation of the cell's internal and external environments.

4. Can the hydrophobic effect be reversed?

The hydrophobic effect can be reversed by adding surfactants or detergents, which contain both hydrophobic and hydrophilic regions. These molecules can disrupt the hydrophobic interactions between nonpolar molecules and water, allowing them to mix more easily. Additionally, changes in temperature and pressure can also affect the strength of the hydrophobic effect.

5. How is the hydrophobic effect related to the formation of micelles and lipid bilayers?

The hydrophobic effect is critical in the formation of micelles and lipid bilayers. In both cases, the hydrophobic tails of the molecules face inward towards each other, while the hydrophilic heads interact with the surrounding water. This structure allows for the efficient packing of nonpolar molecules while minimizing their interactions with water.

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