hat is a hydrophilic moiety?

see full answer

Your Exam Success, Personally Taken Care Of

1:1 expert mentors customize learning to your strength and weaknesses – so you score higher in school , IIT JEE and NEET entrance exams.

An Intiative by Sri Chaitanya

(Unlock A.I Detailed Solution for FREE)

Best Courses for You

JEE

NEET

Foundation JEE

Foundation NEET

CBSE

Detailed Solution

A hydrophilic moiety is the water-loving part of a molecule that forms favorable interactions with water.

Hydrophilic groups carry charge or polar bonds that hydrogen-bond or ion-dipole interact with water. Common examples include –OH (hydroxyl), –NH₂/–NH₃⁺ (amines), –COO⁻ (carboxylates), phosphates, and sulfate groups. In amphiphiles like phospholipids or detergents, the hydrophailic “head” faces water while the hydrophobic “tail” avoids it, driving micelle and membrane formation.

Examples

Phosphatidylcholine head: Phosphate + choline = hydrophilic.
Glucose ring: Multiple –OH groups make it soluble.
Soap: Carboxylate head is hydrophilic; alkyl chain is hydrophobic.

Moiety	Typical interaction with water
Hydroxyl (–OH)	Hydrogen bonds
Carboxylate (–COO⁻)	Ion–dipole + H-bond
Ammonium (–NH₃⁺)	Ion–dipole
Phosphate	Multiple ion–dipole bonds