biostudies-literatureGomez SUniversidad de AntioquiaH2020 Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions9233-9245https://www.ebi.ac.uk/biostudies/studies/S-EPMC8261874biostudies-literatureUnknown12(26)A thorough exploration of the molecular basis for hydrophobicity with a comprehensive set of theoretical tools and an extensive set of organic solvent S/water binary systems is discussed in this work. Without a single exception, regardless of the nature or structure of S, all quantum descriptors of bonding yield stabilizing S⋯water interactions, therefore, there is no evidence of repulsion and thus no reason for etymological hydrophobicity at the molecular level. Our results provide molecular insight behind the exclusion of S molecules by water, customarily invoked to explain phase separation and the formation of interfaces, in favor of a complex interplay between entropic, enthalpic, and dynamic factors. S⋯water interfaces are not just thin films separating the two phases; instead, they aChemical scienceA molecular twist on hydrophobicity.PMC8261874Estrategia para la sostenibilidad765739Rojas-Valencia NMerino GCappelli CGomez SGomez SARestrepo AfalseA molecular twist on hydrophobicity.A thorough exploration of the molecular basis for hydrophobicity with a comprehensive set of theoretical tools and an extensive set of organic solvent S/water binary systems is discussed in this work. Without a single exception, regardless of the nature or structure of S, all quantum descriptors of bonding yield stabilizing S⋯water interactions, therefore, there is no evidence of repulsion and thus no reason for etymological hydrophobicity at the molecular level. Our results provide molecular insight behind the exclusion of S molecules by water, customarily invoked to explain phase separation and the formation of interfaces, in favor of a complex interplay between entropic, enthalpic, and dynamic factors. S⋯water interfaces are not just thin films separating the two phases; instead, they a2021-01-01T00:00:00Z2021 Jul2026-05-09T07:40:55.174Z2022-02-10T20:29:39.97ZS-EPMC82618743427695310.1039/d1sc02673a