Hydrophobic

High school (ages 12+)
Science & Technology

Name:

Date:

Step 1 · Read the article

Open the article and read it at the level above. Then answer the questions below in your own words.

https://smallwhale.org/articles/hydrophobic

Write what each word means, using the article.

Do not copy the article. Write two things you learned, the way you would explain them to a friend.

Answers below are taken from the article’s stored facts, so they match what the student read.

1. What is the fundamental principle?Unfavorable interactions between polar water molecules and nonpolar surfaces
2. What is the key natural example?Lotus leaf (lotus effect) with hierarchical nanostructure
3. What does "hydrophobic" mean?It means water doesn’t like the surface and slides right off, like a superhero cape for surfaces.
4. Why do water droplets form a ball on a hydrophobic surface?Water molecules stick to each other better than to the surface, so they keep a small contact area and form a round droplet.

Hydrophobicity: The physical property of a molecule in a liquid to repel water.
Surface Free Energy: The excess energy at the surface of a material compared to the bulk.
Wetting: The ability of a liquid to maintain contact with a solid surface.
Biomimicry: The imitation of the models, systems, and elements of nature for human innovation.