BI226 Lecture Notes - Lecture 11: Electronegativity, Hydrophile
Document Summary
Polarity of water is essential for life. Because oxygen is more electronegative than hydrogen, shared electrons are pulled more toward oxygen. They are weak because the molecules need to be close together for an attraction to occur. Repulsion if two slightly negative ends of molecules come close together, they will repel each other. Elements in the human body need to interact with water (ions, compounds, molecules). Molecules try to keep their polar regions (charged) on the outside of the molecule it can interact with water. Hydrophobic (non-polar) do not dissolve in water.
