Is Peanut Oil Amphipathic or Hydrophobic?

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In summary, the conversation discusses the properties of soap and vegetable oil, and whether they are amphipathic or strictly hydrophobic. Some sources suggest that both substances are amphipathic due to their hydrophobic and polar components, while others argue that they are strictly hydrophobic. The conversation also considers the molecular structure of vegetable oil and how it relates to its hydrophobic nature.
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lha08
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Homework Statement


Soap is amphipathic; it has a hydrophobic hydrocarbon and a polar carboxylate group. But here's where I'm getting confused; in oil, such as peanut oil for example, is it amphipathic or only hydrophobic?
I looked everywhere and in some books it says that its amphipathic because of its hydrocarbon chain and polar carboxylic group, while in others it says its strictly hydrophobic...but when we place oil in soap, it should form emulsions which suggests that its only hydrophobic but from a molecular point of view, shouldn't oil be amphipathic?



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  • #2
The word you are trying to use should be changed to something else. Amphi-What?

A vegetable oil (and also an animal oil or fat) will be hydrophobic. The ester functional group will hold two hydrophobic parts together, making one larger hydrphobic molecule.
 
  • #3
symbolipoint said:
The word you are trying to use should be changed to something else. Amphi-What?

http://lmgtfy.com/?q=amphipathic
 

Related to Is Peanut Oil Amphipathic or Hydrophobic?

1. Is oil considered amphipathic or hydrophobic?

The answer is that oil is considered hydrophobic, meaning it repels water. This is because oil molecules are nonpolar and do not interact well with polar water molecules.

2. What does it mean for a substance to be amphipathic?

Amphipathic substances have both hydrophilic (water-loving) and hydrophobic (water-repelling) regions. This allows them to interact with both polar and nonpolar molecules.

3. Why is oil considered hydrophobic?

Oil is considered hydrophobic because it is composed of molecules that are nonpolar and do not have a charge. This makes it difficult for them to interact with the polar molecules of water.

4. Can oil ever be considered amphipathic?

In some cases, oil can have small polar regions attached to nonpolar hydrocarbon chains, making it amphipathic. However, the overall nature of oil is still considered hydrophobic.

5. How does the amphipathic or hydrophobic nature of oil affect its interactions with other substances?

The hydrophobic nature of oil means that it will not mix with water and will instead form separate layers. It also tends to interact with other nonpolar substances, such as lipids, while repelling polar substances like water. This makes it useful for creating barriers and protecting against water loss in organisms.

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